ABOUT 300 THOUSAND RESIDENTS OF TIRANA ALREADY RECEIVE A MEDICAL SERVICE OF THE BEST STANDARDS IN THE SPECIALTIES POLYCLINIC NO. 1, LOCATED IN A THREE-STORY BUILDING, RADICALLY TRANSFORMED AND EQUIPPED WITH NEW MEDICAL EQUIPMENT. THEY ARE THE DIRECT BENEFICIARIES OF THE 76 MILLION ALL INVESTMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH, WHICH EXPANDED THE EXISTING SPACE, RECONSTRUCTED FACILITIES AND SUPPLIED THEM WITH NEW MEDICAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE 18 SPECIALIZED SERVICES THAT THIS POLYCLINIC PROVIDES. THE NEW PREMISES WERE VISITED TODAY BY PRIME MINISTER EDI RAMA, ACCOMPANIED BY THE MINISTER OF HEALTH ILIR BEQAJ.

The Polyclinic No.1 is an important ring in the chain of primary health care. 10 health centres send their patients to this polyclinic that with its 18 specialties carried 256 thousand visits in 2015. A significant portion of the investment is the facilitations created for patients of all ages, such as the elevator, pandus and other supporting accessories for disabled persons, a central air-conditioning system, as well as secondary sources to ensure supply of electricity and water around the clock.

Contemporary conditions, especially the provision of new equipment, allow 36 specialist doctors, 36 nurses and 15 laboratory staff members to provide a better quality service and a better work performance, while for citizens it means reduced time of service provision. “We are very pleased with the work done. Work performance has increased, and the time for the service provision has been reduced from 3 weeks to a maximum of 1 week-10 days”, Marsela Haruni, a doctor of the Bio-Chemical laboratory explained.

Cardiologist Anila Shahini said that they now feel good as professional as well, because they are able to provide services that they couldn’t offer until recently. “Now that we see the difference with before, we are really excited to be able to provide a better quality service. In Tirana there was only one echocardiography equipment until recently, and we would feel really bad that patients had to wait for months to have even a basic check. Now patients affected by heart diseases can be treated here. It seemed a luxury for us to be able to perform the examinations for which we specialized. Still can’t believe this. We treat 60 patients per day.”

Citizens said that this investment means a better and faster service provision, in addition to being close to where they live. “Until yesterday we had to go to the neighbourhood n.9, which is very far away. Schedules were long-term. Now that this service is provided also in our neighbourhood, we come here more often and everything is easier. You can tell the difference. They have the most contemporary parameters. We are very grateful for this.”

The thorough rehabilitation of the Polyclinics no. 1 is part of the program of investment in infrastructure, which is also expected to supply with medical equipment the health care centres across the country. “This is part of the program to provide a better cardiology service across the country. We opened 11 cabinets in the regional hospitals which were missing. In Tirana we opened the specialty polyclinics, so that we can provide people a faster service and closer to where they live. In addition, the THUC will be delivered of these cases and will deal with more complicated cases. Cardiologists also can perform here a most comprehensive and better quality service”, Minister Beqaj said.

“This really is the first time that this phenomenon has occurred. Only you have invested in cardiology. From just one ECG equipment that used to be here, now the centre has been equipped with Holter, bicycles, Eco”, one of the doctors said. While the Director of the Polyclinic Ylli Kërçani said that this investment completes the hospital diagnostic process which was a dream.

Prime Minister Rama noted that in recent years investment in health have brought tangible results, but it is not funding that makes the difference, but the vision and a new approach of the government. “There will always be a need, everywhere, for a better quality health care service. We are encountering a terrible inertia face to destruction and in terms people’s perception and trust, but we are proud because we have made investments in the health care as never before. In addition, if we compere funds, the difference with the past is not very big, but it is important to note that we have programmed very well, have implemented very well, and we have done everything within the framework of a vision to have things built step by step.”