Health care centre No.6 in the coastal city of Durres underwent an expansion and renovation project, and has been supplied with new medical equipment under the government’s ambitious program to construct and reconstruct 300 health centres across the country. The expanded centre features completely renovated patient care facility to improve access to care services for local community and some 20 000 residents.
For the health personnel and patients alike, the investment was both indispensable and long-waited. “The conditions have significantly improved like never before,” a patient said. One of the doctors working in this health centre noted that the facility had never undergone such a renovation project over the past three decades. “I work in the health system for over 35 years and I have never seen such a renovation project being carried out here. We now enjoy optimal working conditions,” he said.
Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by the Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu visited the newly reconstructed care centre with will offer health services 24 hours a day to visitors and tourists during the upcoming summer season. “This is one of the centres providing full coverage of the preventive medical check-up and I am confident care services will keep improving, not only preventive services, but also service planning via e-referring system,” the Minister of Health said.
The basic preventive medical check-up is provided to every citizen of any age for free. Likewise, all patients diagnosed with chronic health condition receive fully reimbursed medicines. “Our service covers chronic diseases and patients with chronic conditions, be either insured or uninsured individuals, are now entitled to receiving fully reimbursed medicines,” one of the doctors said. “Everything is provided for free. Previously, the uninsured individuals had to pay medical care costs. The reimbursed medicines alternative is for free and patients are always guided by the family doctors,” Health Minister Manastirliu said.
The medical check-ups are now planned via the online system. Such practice also helps to store patient data or medical records for each patient. “The family doctor can now plan visits to the specialist and, in addition, the planning of examinations the patient undergoes. This reduces patient waiting times and all the data are stored in the system to create a patient health record,” MP Klodiana Spahiu said.
