The newly reconstructed polyclinic in Vlora, located in the city’s centre, has been completely transformed into a modern health care centre.

The state budget-funded investment project worth over 111 million lek has transformed the previous old building into a modern medical centre to offer Vlora residents not only specialized services up European standards, but also provide contemporary working conditions for 70 doctors and nurses.

Prime Minister Edi Rama visited Friday the newly renovated polyclinic that will provide health care services to over 150 000 Vlora residents, as well as countless visitors during the tourist season.

Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu said that the investment includes the state-of-the-art and most advanced medical equipment that have become available to the new polyclinic.

“This polyclinic is a symbol of the health development in Vlora and it represents one of the investments we had planned to conceive not only as an infrastructure, but also medical equipment available for every health care service provided to the local residents. The new health care centre provides services to over 150 000 residents, as well as to the growing number of visitors to Vlora. The medical personnel include some 70 doctors and nurses who now deliver their health service in totally transformed workin conditions, after no investment had been carried out in this centre in decades. The locals now call it the jewel in this boulevard,” Manastirliu said.

The Polyclinic offers 17 specialized services, ranging from emergency service, laboratory, neurology, cardiology, oncology, nephrology, and so on, already equipped with high-tech equipment.

Health Minister Manastirliu explained that an electronic queue management system is now in place, while patients are also assisted by coordinators, avoiding long queues while waiting for the health service to be delivered.

“The project completed within a very short time and it was combined with the investment project to reconstruct the boulevard. The polyclinic will provide a range of health services that were previously provided by the regional hospital only. The center carries out 150 000 medical tests and check-ups, 7000 screenings and X-ray screenings. A whole closed service cycle takes place within this polyclinic. The queue management system is an electronic one, including the system for the people with disabilities,” she said.

“I work for 42 years in the health care system and I serve for around 20 years in this polyclinic. We are very pleased at such transformation of the polyclinic,” a nurse said.

The polyclinic will for the first time offer the emergency health care service through the emergency service that has now been installed there as part of the center’s infrastructure. “The health emergency service is also operational at this polyclinic. Indeed, the real emergency service is provided at the hospital, but an emergency health care service is now in place here in order to provide first aid to any patient during the tourist season. The service includes microsurgery and every other emergency service provided here with equipment of highest standards,” Manastirliu said.

Some 11 newly graduated specialized doctors, including cardiologists, imaging specialists, emergency physicians, pediatricians, oncologists, have joined the medical staff of Vlora regional hospital and the new polyclinic.