Investments in health systems continue apace at Mother Teresa University Hospital Centre in Tirana, with work underway to construct the new Internal Medicine Hospital, a modern facility designed to meet highest contemporary standards and set to become operational within this year.

Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by the Minister of Health Ogerta Manastirliu, today conducted a site inspection to verify progress on the project, where construction work is full steam ahead.

“The state budget-funded project on construction of new Internal Medicine Hospital, an investment worth 14.8 million euros, has moved to a whole new level. The construction work has progressed to an advanced phase. We are seeking to complete the investment within this year. The electrical system is currently being installed. All the polyvalent emergency services, currently being provided at A1 building will be transferred to the new facility, while the current building where the emergency ward is located will be adopted to provide outpatient services to citizens, as a way to boost efficiency and hospital capacities,” Health Minister Manastirliu said, adding that new 271-bed hospital facility, divided into several service units, will benefit 109,000 patients. The facility will provide internal medicine care, rheumatology, allergology, dermatology and physiotherapy services, currently all housed in other buildings at University Hospital Centre, and along with existing services, namely the gastroenterology, hematology, endocrinology, nephrology, dialysis, cardiology, hemodynamic and cardiology intensive care unit, will complete the profile of a genuine internal medicine hospital.

Modernization of hospital infrastructure as a whole will eliminate the chaos often triggered by the lack of designated lounge areas for visitors and patients’ family members and will allow the medical personnel move freely. “The novelty of this building starting from the ground floor is that the emergency ward and the emergency entrance will no longer be inside, creating confusion, but will be accessed directly from Dibra Street,” Manastirliu said.

Health Minister Manastirliu added that “the masterplan on development of the University Hospital Centre will also provide for a new space for the movement of the medical personnel and visitors within whole existing space.”