New Healthcare Projects in 2007

TIRANA, Jan.19 – Three hospital construction projects and one healthcare system modernization program are in the list of foreign financed new healthcare programs, Albania’s Health Ministry said on Friday. The combined investment is worth 1.75 billion leks ($18.1 million/14 million euro). The Islamic Development Bank is one of the key donors with an investment of 200 million leks for the construction of the second phase of an ongoing hospital construction project in Durres, and a co-financing, together with the OPEC Fund, of 300 million leks for a hospital construction project in Kavaje.
The third project costs some 650 million leks and is financed by the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB). It is for the construction of an internal diseases hospital at the capital’s University Health Centre Mother Teresa. The Albanian healthcare system has received many negative reviews together with recommendations for urgent changes especially by the European Union. Thus, the ministry plans also to launch a 600 million leks healthcare system modernization project funded by the World Bank – part of a larger $19.1 million program, jointly funded by the bank, Japan and Albania, aimed at helping the country improve both physical and financial access to health services. Additionally, the ministry said it would invest 800 million leks from its 2007 budget in healthcare centers construction and upgrades and some 600 million leks in hospital repairs countrywide.