British projects in northern Shkodra

TIRANA, Dec. 11 – The British Embassy and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Albania, in co-operation with the Ministry of Health, launched an anti-corruption project in the regional hospital of Shkodra on Tuesday, trying to assist in improving the service offered to the public by the medical staff, promoting transparency and assisting in the fight against corruption.
“This project does not aim to solve all the problems of corruption in the health service, but better communication between the senior management of the Hospital and the public is essential if we are to reduce unethical behavior,” said British Ambassador Fraser Wilson.
The project will have two components. The first one will focus on raising citizens’ awareness of their rights to obtain medical services as well as their duties and the second part aims to improve the hospital’s facilities by installing electronic information panels, security cameras and modern equipment.
“The fight against corruptive behaviors is a key element for Albania’s integration into the Euro-Atlantic structures and we want to offer our assistance to all levels of governance,” said Alex Finnen, Deputy Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania.
The project is financed both by the British Embassy and the OSCE, and it will be implemented by the OSCE Presence. Activities foresee the finalization of a code of conduct to be signed by doctors and nurses, television advertisements with the message that paying bribes to hospital employees is illegal, information on services and medicines that are free at the point of delivery to the public and an improved security system.