Albania was ranked penultimate in Europe for the Health Care Index in the first half of 2020 by Numbeo, the largest global cost of living and health care quality data portal.
According to the latest update for January-June 2020, Albania received 53.2 points out of a possible 100, leaving behind only Hungary.
Numbeo clarified that the Health Care Index is an assessment of the overall quality of the healthcare system, healthcare professionals, equipment, staff, physicians, cost, etc.
The index is measured in two ways, with the assessments of service users and experts. In both assessments, Albania is ranked penultimate in Europe and 10 countries with the weakest health system among the 100 countries surveyed.
According to the attached map, the countries of Eastern and Southeastern Europe have weak health systems.
Other indicators published by domestic and foreign organizations, including the World Trade Organization, highlight that the Albanian health system has weak capacities, with a low number of medical staff, scarce funding sources and an outdated infrastructure and lack of equipment. medical.
Currently Albania has only 1.2 doctors per 1000 inhabitants, while the average of developing countries is over 3 doctors per 100 inhabitants. Albania also commits only 3 percent of public resources to finance health, at a time when in other transition and developed countries this indicator reaches 4-7% of GDP.
Albania ranks among the countries with a low number of hospital beds in relation to the population. According to data published by the Institute of Statistics, it is estimated that there are 3 beds available per 1000 inhabitants, thus ranking seventh in terms of low number compared to EU countries and those in the region.
Compared to the countries of the region, Albania has a significant difference. In Montenegro, according to Eurostat data on the number of beds and population, and Monitor estimates, there are about 3.9 beds per 1000 inhabitants, followed by Northern Macedonia with 4.4 and Serbia with 5.6.
The WHO projection for 2020-2022 shows that Albania will spend less than 10% of its total public money on health for the next three years. The decline in resources for primary care is worrying. The strategy for the development of primary care in Albania requires a budget increased to 25%. "The important role of primary care in the response and cure of COVID 19 is important," the report said.
Source: Monitor
