The haemodialysis, a vital service for patients who need it, is already delivered in Shkodra, where it was provided in miserable conditions, while now it has turned into a service with European standards. The new second centre of the haemodialysis in Shkodra opened after that of Vlora, to be followed by other centres in other cities, thus easing the cost burden for citizens, in addition to saving them time for travelling to the Hospital Centre “Mother Teresa” in Tirana.
Until yesterday, patients had to wait very long hours to have the service delivered, sometimes until the next morning, due to shortcomings, old equipment, and also to the inability to be equipped with medical materials. The haemodialysis machineries were completely outdated, and this fact affected the normal delivery of the service.
The panorama offered today is completely different. The new centre of haemodialysis, a public private-partnership investment with an initial value of 900 thousand dollars, provides a contemporary service, with modern equipment, the capacity to expand further and ready to receive patients whose number is growing, given the growing tendency of this morbidity in this city. 17 + 3 treatment positions have been installed in this centre, two positions in special rooms for patients with hepatitis C and HIV, to carry out treatment of patients in only 2 shifts.
Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by Health Minister Ilir Beqaj, visited today the centre and met with medical staff and patients.
“Different as night and day”, citizens told about the new service. Patients told also that the removal of the night shift is a terrific advantage for them, because it was exhausting to spend the night in hospital. “Now conditions are very good. I used to have haemodialysis during the night shift, while now I have it in the morning”, an old man told the Prime Minister.
“Our conditions were really hard. We are very thankful for this service. Before we had to wait from 4 pm to 8 pm, because machineries didn’t work properly. I used to have haemodialysis during night shift. We were back home at 11 pm or at midnight”, another citizen explained.
Doctors say that they are now able to successfully cope with the influx of patients thanks to the increased capacities. “Conditions used to be very difficult, with only 7 beds, and it was impossible to have 3 sessions in a week. Thanks to the new public-private partnerships, we have 3 armchairs and 3 machineries, which are always spare for emergencies, and the whole service is carried out in 2 shifts. No more 3rd shifts. No more patients coming here at midday and leaving at 2 am.”
Another doctor said that improved work conditions mean a better quality service for patients. “The devices we had were very few. Just 8 of them. This is a big change. We now have 20 devices, and from 3 shifts we have moved to 2 shifts. Conditions are very good both for the staff and for patients. In addition, we now have aspirators and air conditioning. We didn’t have such conditions, and the environment were full of toxins.”
The director of the Haemodialysis Centre said that the new service impacts significantly on enhancing the quality of life of patients and their longevity. “We never thought we could have such a modern service in the hospital of Shkoder, with super good capacities, and I believe that in the future we will be able to meet every need linked to this service. Infrastructure is extremely good, but what I think is more important is the fact that we will be able to work with modern standards. Patients will be provided 3 sessions, 4 hours each.”
According to Health Minister Beqaj, in addition to the benefits that this centre brings for patients, it is also an encouragement for doctors and nurses to give the maximum in their work. “We continue implementing the partnership contract. After Vlora, this is the second unit. We managed to renew technology and double capacities in a very short time. New equipment, a much better quality service.”
The Prime Minister noted that the problem of citizens wandering from one hospital to another will be solved soon across the country, because new centres are about to be opened in other cities.
“The problem of all these people who have been tortured for all these years due to 3-shift sessions, forced to commute from one city to another to have this service three times a week, will be solved across Albania. This one is the second centre, and we will continue with Korça, Lezhe, Elbasan. This is a result of the public-private partnership, something that has been called concession, but which in fact is a public-private partnership, because the government couldn’t do such an investment across the country in such a short time. Therefore, the cooperation with the private allows the investment to be done immediately, in addition to making available to the state personnel not only the whole infrastructure, but also the necessary materials, the maintenance of equipment. The only issue of the medical staff now is to treat patients the best way possible.”
