WHO report on health care financing: Albania ranks low

TIRANA, Nov. 28- In a recent report of the World Health Organization regarding health care financing in 190 countries worldwide, Albania ranks near the bottom at 173rd. Only three percent of the GDP is allocated to medical expenses while Albanians still have to pay more than 60 percent of their medication costs out of their own pockets. Even compared to the region, Albania ‘s position is not better. Pharmaceutical markets seems to have had the most positive assessment with a large diversity of medicines in the market. However, the low living standards of the population makes some of these medicines unaffordable. Even though the WHO has recommended 400 indispensable medicines be made available, the Albanian market displays more than 2700, while only 400 are reimbursed by the state and the Institute of Health Care Security. Official statistics reveal that 47 percent of expenses in the medicine field are connected to pharmaceuticals. Out of 3 million inhabitants, only 600.000 pay health care contributions, which ranks Albania at the bottom of the region in that regard. The health care contribution in Albania is no more than 3.4 percent of personal revenues, while in Macedonia it is 9.5 percent. In Bulgaria it is six percent.