PRIMARY HEALTH CARE INITIATIVE: ALBANIA

Health Care Needs
The health care system in Albania is a rigidly structured, state-centralized system that remains inefficient to meet the growing health care needs of its citizens. With the majority of its population living in rural areas, few centrally located centers can handle the overflow of patients, making the system disproportionate in its delivery of medical services.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death, followed by injuries. Albania has a high rate of emergency care due to a poor public transportation system and the constant political and economic instability that as a result, causes many civil disturbances. Many of the hospitals have inadequate blood supplies and emergency room facilities in order to properly treat trauma patients. Most patients are transferred to Greece for emergency care.

The Albanian health care system relies heavily on humanitarian aid for medical supplies and pharmaceuticals. Almost all of the existing medical centers are forced to ration medical supplies. With a private pay system introduced by the Albanian Government that no one can afford, many people do not receive the medicines they need to treat their illnesses.

Country Background
Albania is one of the poorest countries in Europe. Nearly a half-century of socialization and dictatorship has left Albania in political and economic turmoil since declaring itself a democracy in 1986. Located in southeastern Europe and in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula, this largely mountainous country has 65 percent of its population living in rural and remote villages. The capital, Tirana, is the most urban city in Albania. The Hellenic community is concentrated most heavily in southern Albania.

SAE's Health Care Center
SAE has established a health care center in Georgousates, Albania in cooperation and conjunction with His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania. The clinic in Georgousates will be fully operational by March 1, 2003 and has already begun to see a limited number of patients. SAE is also working on establishing its humanitarian assistance program that has already delivered approximately $1 million worth of aid.

Through the generosity of the Michalides Tobacco Company, SAE will establish a clinic in Koritsa, Albania in the spring of 2003.

Support SAE's PHCI mission in Albania

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