The transformation underway at the University Hospital Center “Mother Teresa,” which has been ongoing for several years, continues to turn Albania’s largest healthcare institution into a modern medical facility, providing specialized care to citizens from across the country.
One of the areas currently being renovated is the parking lot, which serves thousands of vehicles that enter and exit the Center daily. The new project will feature a multifunctional space with 1,400 parking spots, a hotel-style facility for patients and their families, as well as for students, doctors, and experts collaborating with the hospital. Additionally, there will be a dedicated rooftop area exclusively for emergency helicopter landings.
Prime Minister Edi Rama visited the construction site of the multi-story parking facility today, alongside the Minister of Health and Social Protection, Albana Koçiu, who outlined that the goal is to build a multi-functional parking structure that will remove vehicles from the internal roads, allowing these spaces to be transformed into green parks and creating a calmer, healthier environment for all those receiving services there.
“We are here at the main entrance of the University Hospital Center ‘Mother Teresa,’ which experiences a high flow of cars—entering, exiting, and parking. Approximately 4,000 vehicles enter and exit daily, and nearly 120,000 vehicles circulate monthly, significantly increasing movement within the internal spaces and creating an uncomfortable and less pleasant experience for those receiving services here, especially given the doubling demand for parking and access to services within QSUT. What we are working on, together with the FSHZH (Albanian Fund for the Development), is the construction of a multi-functional parking facility that will ensure the removal of vehicles from the internal roads of QSUT, clearing the internal spaces and transforming them into creative parks, creating a more peaceful and healthier environment for all visitors. This new center will not only double the parking capacity, providing about 1,400 spaces, but will also include dedicated spots for people with disabilities, as well as charging stations for electric vehicles. Additionally, it will offer specialized services on the building’s rooftop for emergency helicopter landings, ensuring high-quality emergency services,” explained Minister Koçiu.
Praising the work done over the years, the Prime Minister stated that the ongoing transformation is gradually realizing the vision that started everything.
“This was the initial vision, the entire transformation. There used to be a large market here, selling clothes, fruits, vegetables, and trinkets. The goal was to reach exactly this point, and in fact, this is the key issue that is being solved now. With the creation of a shared parking facility in a centralized building and the declaration of QSUT as fully pedestrian, no car will move anywhere within QSUT except for emergency vehicles. All public spaces outside the buildings should be transformed into a park. This is what we need to do! A final investment must be made here now. Everything outside the building perimeter should thrive, not only with greenery but also with works of art, and this will complete the process!” said the Prime Minister.
The building is also planned to include accommodation facilities, not only for the families of patients in a hotel-style structure but also for students, doctors, and experts who come here for the training and professional development of the staff.
