Albania has the lowest number of doctors per 10,000 inhabitants in Europe and is one of the lowest ranking globally.
According to a study by the World Health Organisation, Albania has just 12 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants, behind countries such as Afghanistan, Congo, Pakistan and India.
While this data comes from 2016, it’s believed the number is even lower now as doctors and other healthcare professionals have emigrated en masse in recent years with many going to Germany.
The country with the highest number of doctors per 10,000 inhabitants is Lithuania with 63.
In Central Europe, the country with the most doctors is Greece with 55, Austria with 51.7, Germany with 42.5 and Sweden and Italy with 40 each.
In the Western Balkans, Serbia leads the way with 31 doctors per 10,000.
Earlier, the UN reported that Albania is one of the countries that spends less than other countries, only 2.3 percent of GDP for health. For the UN, “this trend is worrying if we want to build a better health system.
In its estimates, “to meet the needs of primary medical care, the government must invest 25 percent of its budget.”
President Ilir Meta expressed his concern over the low number of doctors and called on the government to invest as much as possible in health.
“The situation that the country is going through regarding the COVID-19 pandemic is a very clear proof that without a fully efficient health system and complete with doctors, the health of the citizens will be endangered.”
President Meta stressed that the country needs ‘more far-sighted policies, not only to curb leaving, but to increase, motivate and empower health personnel.’
