Prime Minister Edi Rama stated that infections and deaths from Covid-19 in Albania are below the regional average.
In a Facebook post, Rama writes that hospitals offer the same services as in Europe.
“Infections below the regional average. Life loss below the regional average. Covid hospitals lack nothing from anywhere else across Europe. Tireless doctors and nurses. The government in office. With FAITH and PATIENCE, we will pass this extraordinary test “
Exit analysed data from Worldometer (number of cases and deaths) with data on the population of Serbia, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Albania to verify Rama’s claims.
Albania
Infection rate: 0.99%
Death rate: 2.21%
Kosovo
Infection rate: 1.64%
Death rate: 2.79%
Montenegro
Infection rate: 4.46%
Death rate: 1.42%
North Macedonia
Infection rate: 2.29%
Death rate: 4.83%
Serbia
Infection rate: 1.25%
Death rate: 1.17%
As you can see, Albania’s infection rate is indeed the lowest in the region. Albania also has the lowest testing rate in Europe and does not test those with mild symptoms or even some of those that are in contact with infected people but have no or mild symptoms. Therefore, we cannot accurately say whether Albania’s infection rate is lower or higher than the region.
The death rate in Albania is higher than in Montenegro and Serbia. It is exceeded by North Macedonia and Kosovo.
The average infection rate in the region is 2.16% which is indeed higher than the rate of confirmed cases in Albania. But as previously mentioned, we can reasonably assume that this number is far higher.
The average death rate for the region is 2.45% which is indeed higher than Albania’s 2.21%, but only by 0.21 percentage points. Albania does, however, have a higher death rate than Serbia and Montenegro.
While Rama’s statement is true in theory, it does not present the full picture.
In terms of his comments regarding hospitals,in fact, Albania ranks second to last in Europe in terms of health care quality. In the Health Care Index covering January-June 2020, it ranked poorly for professionalism, modern equipment, ability to receive appropriate treatment, and overall service.
Albania scored 51.33 points out of a possible 100, surpassed only by Hungary in Europe. Overall, Albania came 85th out off 93 countries.
Albania also has the lowest number of doctors per 10,000 inhabitants in Europe and one of the lowest globally, according to a study by the World Health Organisation.
Just this week, both Orthodox Archbishop Anastasios, the Mufti of Shkodra, and Catholic Archbishop Frendo were all transported out of Albania for treatment for COVID-19.
Journalists have not been able to verify conditions inside hospitals, even those that are standing by. Instead, Rama published a carefully edited documentary on ERTV (his own personal TV station) showing near perfect conditions in an empty hospital. It also included patients who expressed their gratitude for government care and generosity.
There have also been four suicides in Tirana’s COVID-19 hospitals since the beginning of the summer. The Ministry of Health has not responded to any questions from Exit regarding mental health protocols or measures.
