Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced that Albanian COVID-19 hospitals are on a par with those in Europe.
In a press conference today, he said that “COVID hospitals in Albania are equipped with all the equipment found in every hospital in Europe.”.
He added that doctors are well paid and that 3556 doctors and 1212 support staff had all received a state bonus for their work.
Rama also gave some medical advice to those in attendance, reminding them to “not take too much medicine”.
In terms of the pandemic and the rapid increase in numbers, Rama said that the Technical Committee will meet tomorrow to discuss current restrictions. He said that there are concerns among them, they are “worried” and that there will be tightening of restrictions.
He said that the country would not go into another full lockdown, but that people must respect the measures put in place.
Rama’s claims about conditions in Albanian hospitals have been contested. Hundreds of Albanian citizens have been treated abroad for COVID. In October and November, some 565 flights departed Albania for “medical purposes” headed for Turkey, Italy, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.
The family of a patient being treated in a Turkish hospital told Exit that when their father-in-law arrived in early November, there were around 20 Albanians being treated. Within a week, this number had doubled to around 40. He had been told by Albanian doctors that his chance of recovery was slim and that his best bet was to seek treatment abroad.
Prime Minister Edi Rama has continued to say that Albanian hospitals are on a par with those in Turkey and Europe, but it seems many do not share the same confidence. Even high-ranking religious figures have sought treatment abroad. Orthodox Archbishop Anastasios was sent to Greece, the Mufti of Shkoder to Turkey, and Catholic Archbishop Frendo to Italy.
