The Vice President of Albania’s Nurses Order, Sabri Skenderi has warned of protests after two nurses were assaulted in the pediatric department of the state hospital over the weekend.
According to Skenderi, this is not an isolated incident, and there are cases around the country where nurses are assaulted while working.
“She was the mother of a child, she said ‘save my child’, grabbed her by the hair and started hitting the nurses. This was a very unfair action, we are reacting to sensitize the opinion of the medical staff to react and protest against these behaviours,” he said.
Skenderi continued that there had been two or three other cases recently in other districts of Albania, leading to stakeholders saying they are on the verge of calling a protest.
The association published a statement condemning the issue and noting the absence of a reaction from government institutions.
“Strange is the fact that they [the government] are not even worried about the massive departure of nurses that happens every day, causing staff shortages in many hospitals and health centres. The violence does not stop against medical staff and especially against the nurses, since they are the first contact with the patients.,” it noted.
It also drew attention to other issues such as severe understaffing, overburdening staff with work, a lack of specialist doctors, and a lack of experience amongst staff.
“There is a marked shortage of mediations or services…medicines and basics that families are forced to buy in different pharmacies around the hospital,” it continues.
“Beyond these, the majority of patients and family members are faced with different situations where, for other tests or examinations, they are recommended by doctors to be done in private clinics or hospitals, since these doctors work there after the working hours that end in the state.”
Meanwhile the government has slashed funds for primary care and public care services by EUR 16 million for the rest of the year.
The cut in health funding comes as the country faces a fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, as health experts say the virus will linger, and future sub-variants could be even more aggressive.
To cope with the burden of morbidity, public health experts have suggested strengthening capacities in primary care and pandemic surveillance.
Albanian Government Slashes Healthcare Funds in Budget Revision
