The 4th Steering Committee of the SOLIDAR Project “Together in Health Emergencies”, a project by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and implemented by GFA Consulting Group GmbH, was held on 9 July 2025 at the Ministry of Health and Social Protection premises in Tirana. The meeting brought together senior representatives from the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the Health Care Service Operator, the Institute of Public Health, the Health and Social Care Quality Assurance Agency, the National Medical Emergency Center, the National Health Insurance Fund, the Embassy of Switzerland and GFA Consulting Group.

The Committee reviewed progress and challenges from the first half of Year 2 of implementation and discussed strategic priorities for the upcoming semester. Discussions covered key updates across all three project outcomes, strengthening the national health emergency system, enhancing emergency medical services at primary healthcare level, and fostering community engagement in emergency preparedness.

Particular attention was given to progress on the development of national clinical guidelines for emergency care, the digitalisation of emergency reporting in 24/7 health centres, the rollout of certified Basic Life Support and First Aid (BLS–FA) and advanced emergency training (ILS, ITLS) for doctors and nurses, and the work of community resilience networks across five Albanian municipalities. Members took stock of how these initiatives are translating into measurable changes in service quality and emergency preparedness.

The Committee also addressed key challenges and next steps related to the Action Plan for Primary Health Care, the Continuous Medical Education action plan, the establishment of a national online training platform for emergency medical care, sub-national emergency response planning, and inter-institutional coordination at national level. Members reaffirmed the project’s alignment with Albania’s National Health Strategy 2021–2030 and the Primary Health Care Strategy.

By bringing together the project’s government partners, donor representatives, and implementing team in a single forum, the 4th Steering Committee reaffirmed shared commitment to building a more resilient health emergency system in Albania, one that delivers high-quality emergency care close to where people live, including the most vulnerable communities.