Emergency Medical Service in Kukes will be operative in a brand new way, after a thorough reorganization in order to provide citizens a service that is faster and closer to their needs.
Starting from next week, 109 thousand residents of this region will be served simultaneously with 6 ambulances, from 3 they used to be, which are GPS monitored at any moment, in addition to providing an improved coverage of the territory in terms of quality and efficiency. For the first time, ambulances will be stationed also in other centres like Has and Tropoje, in addition to the town of Kukes, so that an ambulance will serve 18 thousand inhabitants, unlike the ratio of 1 to 36 thousand it used to be.
Accompanied by Minister of Health Ilir Beqaj and Director of the National Medical Centre Skënder Brataj, Prime Minister Rama was today in Kukes and attended the ceremony for the presentation of the new ambulances that will be there 24/7, thus saving some time for emergencies.
In addition, more ambulances will be available in view of this reorganization, following an increase in the service personnel.
Health Minister Ilir Beqaj said that the aim is to create a medical emergency that provides an efficient service to citizens. He said that there are still things to be done in terms of improving medical equipment in ambulances, as well as improving the skills of the medical staff. “From three ambulances we had available for the entire region, we now have 6 of them, one for 18 thousand residents”, the minister said.
The director of the national medical centre Skender Brataj made a detailed presentation of the medical needs in Kukes, and of how the new emergency service will be delivered. He said that Kukes is the 7thregion to be operative under the new reorganization, while another 5 regions remain to be reorganized, for a total of 12 regions across the country.
He also informed that a helicopter is also available for the emergency service to be used in cases of accidents or where there is huge influx of tourists, and one of the ambulances can be moved to Morinë.
Prime Minister Rama said that the reform of the emergency service at a national level will eventually solve a chronic problem inherited from years, in terms of the failure to timely meet medical needs. The Prime Minister noted that the way the system has been reorganized for the distribution of ambulances has radically changed the ratio between the number of ambulances and the number of people in need of emergency service.
* * *
The city centre and some neighbourhoods in Kukes have today a very different look thanks to the intensive urban interventions made. The promenade and the park, along with some secondary roads have been completely redesigned based on a redeveloping project that has been already completed. Approximately 2 million dollars were invested for this project, as part of the government funding program for Urban Revival.
The city centre unfolds as an interactive space with architectural and museological elements of the traditions of Kukes. While green areas, road signs, paved sidewalks and lighting, part of this investment, are evidence of the urban transformation of this city. Prime Minister Rama, who was in Kukes accompanied by Minister Beqaj and local MPs, visited the city centre that, thanks to these changes, has brought more positive energy to the community and has become more attractive for tourists and visitors.
