Jan 22 - Albania’s healthcare spending per person is among the lowest in Europe and the Balkans. A new OECD report reveals the country spends just 734 euros per person on healthcare, ranking it last in the region.
Health expert Eglantina Bardhi says this is a direct result of a low budget for the sector. “For 15 years, we’ve raised concerns about insufficient funding for healthcare. We spend less than 3% of our GDP,” Bardhi explains.
She adds that the lack of funding means patients often have to pay out of pocket for better services. “There’s not enough money to follow medical protocols,” Bardhi says. “Citizens are forced to pay for quality care.”
To improve services, Bardhi argues the healthcare budget needs to at least double. “A basic healthcare package should be funded at least twice as much,” she states.
In 2025, Albania’s health and social protection budget will rise by 5%, reaching 103.4 billion lek, or 3.94% of the country’s GDP. But for many, it still won’t be enough.
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