University of Arizona to establish a telemedicine center

TIRANA, Dec. 13 – The University of Arizona, through the International Virtual e-Hospital Foundation founded and led by UA trauma surgeon Dr. Rifat Latifi, was awarded a $750,000 cooperative agreement from the U.S. Agency for International Development to establish a National Telemedicine Center in Albania.
This two-year project will establish a National Telemedicine Center at the Mother Teresa Hospital in Tirana, Albania, with the support of the Albania Ministry of Health and the University of Tirana Medical School.
“Creation of the National Telemedicine Center of Albania will establish the foundation for The Integrated Telemedicine and e-Health Program, a national telemedicine and e-health network in all public hospitals of Albania,” said Latifi, professor of surgery and vice chair of international relations in the UA department of surgery.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will construct or renovate space for all 14 regional telemedicine centers in hospitals in the cities of Berat, Dib첬 Durr쳬 Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokast첬 Korc묠Kuk쳬 Lezh묠Lushnj묠Shkod철and Vlor뮠The network also will be linked with the Trauma Center at Military Hospital in Tirana.
The new program in Albania is part of the wider telemedicine network being developed in the Balkans and southeastern Europe, based on the successful Kosova telemedicine program model established in 2002.
“IBOT is a great strategy to help build modern health capacities in developing countries like Albania and other nations around the world,” said Latifi, founder of the IVeH Foundation. “This program is great tool for the U.S. to be involved in the implementation of medical and health diplomacy.”