Health System Desperately Needs Reforms

TIRANA, July 30 – Prime Minister Sali Berisha asked the new Health Minister Anila Godo to conduct deep reforms in the health system in order to fight corruption among the white blouses and also bring it to the proper standards.
Berisha moved Nard Ndoka, leader of the Christian Democratic Party, part of his governing coalition, to be replaced with Godo, a doctor by profession.
The premier said that the health system was among the most corrupted in the country. He said it is unacceptable why Albanians, who pay their taxes, should pay bribes to get a proper se4vice at the public health institutions.
“There is a heavy burden on you. There are major problems at this system. We cannot accept categorically that this public service be sold as a private one to the taxpayers just to enrich some individuals,” he said at the meeting with the new cabinet members.
Godo acknowledged that a series of reforms were needed for the system. She continued to say that the ministry’s budget was very low and much was needed to restructure the service.
Godo, who was accompanied by the new deputy premier Genc Pollo at the hand over ceremony with Ndoka, said that no one should fear the reforms or the reorganization would be based on political affiliation.
The health system is perceived as the one of the most corrupt sectors of government in Albania, according to the 2007 Transparency International survey.
Albania is one of the poorest countries in Europe, with a quarter of the population living below the international poverty threshold of $2 per day.
The publicly funded health system suffers from a lack of expertise, outdated equipment and grossly inadequate financial resources.
Albania’s public expenditure on health was 4.5 percent of its Gross Domestic Product in 2007, a mere half of the average in the European Union.