TIRANA, Aug. 28 /ATA/ – The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has launched a public consultation on a draft law aimed at creating a new legal framework for organising, financing and delivering social care services across Albania.
The draft places individuals, families and communities at the centre of the social care system, seeking to ensure universal and equal access, protect beneficiaries’ rights and promote social inclusion.
The proposed legislation addresses needs-based planning and funding, case management, service quality, professional standards, digitalisation and monitoring.
A key focus is the expansion of family- and community-based services, support for independent living and the development of long-term care, with the gradual reduction of reliance on residential institutions. The approach is intended to support Albania’s deinstitutionalisation process, particularly for children and families in need.
The draft would strengthen the role of local government in planning and ensuring services and establish a Local Social Fund to support their development.
Emergency social services would be accessible to anyone in Albania regardless of legal status, age, gender or socio-economic circumstances, according to the draft.
The legislation also provides for professional development, certification and licensing of social care staff, continuing training and professional supervision to strengthen service quality and safety.
A unified information and data-management system would support service planning, case management and monitoring, while electronic registers would contribute to greater transparency and more effective social policy.
The draft also calls for stronger cooperation with private service providers, civil society, organisations representing people with disabilities, professionals and beneficiary groups, as well as mechanisms for complaints, beneficiary satisfaction assessments and public reporting on service quality and performance.
The legislation forms part of Albania’s EU integration commitments, particularly under Chapter 19, “Social Policy and Employment”, and reforms related to social protection and inclusion.
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