During a visit to Vlora Regional Hospital, Spahiu outlined measures to strengthen healthcare services and expand access to treatment closer to patients’ homes.

The hospital is one of five regional facilities where haemodialysis services were transferred to state-run management on Nov. 1.

Spahiu said the planned network of regional hospital chemotherapy units and primary healthcare centres would be established with the launch of the National Oncology Institute on Jan. 1, 2027.

The initiative is expected to improve communication between oncologists and family doctors, enabling patients to receive continuous follow-up and care tailored to their individual needs, she said.

Particular attention will be given to patients living in remote areas, older people and those with mobility difficulties, with the aim of making healthcare services more accessible.

During a meeting with medical staff at Vlora Regional Hospital, officials also reported that 342 mammography examinations had been carried out at the hospital during October.

Spahiu stressed that preventive screenings should continue throughout the year rather than being concentrated solely around Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

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Spahiu, accompanied by Deputy Defence Minister Pranvera Skana and Institute of Public Health Director Dorina Toçi, highlighted the importance of prevention, early diagnosis and regular health checks.

She said the priority was to ensure that screening went beyond awareness campaigns and became an accessible, ongoing service for all women.

The national breast cancer screening programme has been expanded to cover women aged 45 to 65, compared with the previous range of 50 to 60, bringing more women within its scope.

“We have expanded the screening age range from 50-60 to 45-65, aiming to include more than 345,000 women in the programme. Screening will continue throughout the year through hospitals and mobile units. Early diagnosis can make the difference between detecting a disease in time and facing a much greater risk to life,” Spahiu said.

She said healthcare policy should place greater emphasis on prevention and put citizens and their needs at the centre of the health system. The 2027 draft budget also supports preventive programmes, investment in healthcare infrastructure and wider access to quality services, she added.

Spahiu called for closer cooperation between institutions and urged women not to postpone medical check-ups, describing regular screening as a responsibility to themselves and their families.

Deputy Defence Minister Skana praised the participation of women in the Armed Forces in awareness-raising activities, stressing that women’s health should remain a priority throughout the year.

Toçi highlighted the importance of a comprehensive approach to women’s health, noting that women could also access HPV testing at their registered health centres to help prevent and detect cervical cancer at an early stage.

A total of 13,948 mammograms were performed across Albania between January and October 2026, including 5,275 in October alone, according to the figures presented.

The data underline the impact of awareness campaigns and the need to maintain screening efforts throughout the year, health officials said.

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Spahiu said teams had been working to prepare the service for full operation, ensuring continuity of treatment and care for patients.

Full operation is scheduled to begin on Nov. 2, with patient safety and quality of care remaining the main priorities, she said.

The transfer to state management is also intended to improve the integration of haemodialysis with other hospital services and expand patients’ access to treatment closer to their homes.

Spahiu stressed that the change in management would not affect patients’ access to treatment, adding that supplies had been distributed to centres and staff were working to ensure the service operated fully.

“The haemodialysis service continues without interruption. Our priority is the safety and care of every patient,” the minister said.

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Minister of Health and Social Welfare Klodiana Spahiu gave the news emphasizing that, “This is a concrete step in implementing the Ministry’s policies for the decentralization of healthcare—bringing specialized treatment closer to citizens and reducing the patient influx toward university hospitals in Tirana.”

According to Spahiu, the mentorship model strengthens the capacities of regional and municipal hospitals, while the expertise of specialized medical teams is leveraged to address the needs of the public.

“A more balanced healthcare system means stronger local hospitals, easier access for citizens and a reduced burden on hospital centers in Tirana,” said Spahiu. The implementation of the first four interventions at Mirdita Municipal Hospital is part of an effort to expand the reach of health services and create a more balanced system, in which municipal and regional hospitals play a greater role in providing medical care.

This model also aims to reduce the flow of patients toward university hospitals in Tirana, thereby easing their burden while simultaneously improving citizens’ access to healthcare services.

Strengthening local hospitals and fostering collaboration with university medical centers represent a key policy direction for the Ministry of Health, aimed at decentralizing services and improving the delivery of healthcare across the country. /k.s/j.p/p.s./

Presenting the draft budget, Malaj said the additional funding was intended to improve access to healthcare and strengthen patient support through increased spending on medicines, medical equipment and hospital infrastructure.

Key measures include an additional 1 billion leks for medicines and medical equipment to support hospitals and primary and secondary healthcare services, Malaj said.

The plan also provides for reimbursable prescriptions for 400,000 patients and the construction or rehabilitation of 20 hospitals across the country, he added.

“The funding aims to improve healthcare delivery and support citizens through the provision of medicines, medical equipment and investment in hospital infrastructure,” Malaj said.

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Minister of Health and Social Welfare Klodiana Spahiu gave the news while also expressing her gratitude to Professor Stanislao Rizzo.

“On behalf of Albanian government, I thanked Professor Stanislao Rizzo who performed the surgery with great professionalism, dedication and human compassion. In the meantime, the government also approved financial support for Erjon Vishkulli today,” said Spahiu.

Minister Spahiu remarked that, “Beyond professional knowledge and skill, it is precisely this human dimension—this coming together in the spirit of humanitarianism—that makes such situations so remarkable.”

“I wish Erjon a full recovery from the bottom of my heart. The success of the surgery is good news and the efforts toward restoring his vision will continue with patience and faith,” said Spahiu.

Erjon Vishkulli suffered an eye injury from a rubber bullet during the protest on October 24. Following a medical procedure in Tirana, Vishkulli was transported to Italy via a medical charter flight.

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Prof. Dritan Alushani explained that the young girl’s congenital condition had been detected prior to birth. Post-natal monitoring revealed a persistent bladder defect that had formed a large cyst, posing a major challenge because it had grown to roughly the same size as the urinary bladder itself.

According to Alushani, the main challenge was to carefully excise the anomaly while saving sufficient tissue for the bladder to function properly throughout her life. He added that the three- to four-hour surgery was a complete success.

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Borjana Jahaj, an oncologist and radiotherapist at the “Mother Teresa” University Hospital Centre, stressed the importance of raising awareness of the disease in an interview with the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATSH), highlighting that it can also affect younger women, including those under the age of 40.

“Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant diseases among women and remains one of the most significant public health challenges in Albania,” Jahaj said.

Speaking about risk factors, Jahaj cited age, family history, genetic mutations and a previous history of breast disease. Other factors include lifetime hormonal exposure, high breast density, being overweight, physical inactivity and alcohol consumption.

“In recent years, awareness has increased and diagnostic methods have improved significantly. However, to determine whether the number of cases has genuinely risen, data from national cancer registries must be analysed to establish whether the upward trend in diagnoses is accompanied by a real increase in cases.

“We are seeing a slight year-on-year increase in new cases, including among younger women. Younger women can develop the disease, and in some cases, it may have more aggressive biological characteristics. Diagnosis is also more challenging in this age group because breast tissue tends to be denser,” she said.

Dr Jahaj said that “early detection is one of the most important factors influencing the success of breast cancer treatment”.

In this regard, she said, mammography remains an essential examination, as it can detect very small changes before symptoms appear or a palpable lump develops.

“Mammography is an essential examination for breast cancer screening, as it can detect very small changes before symptoms appear or a lump becomes palpable. Its importance lies precisely in its ability to detect the disease as early as possible.

“Assessing individual risk is crucial in determining how frequently screening should be carried out. For women at average risk, regular mammography is particularly important between the ages of 40 and 50. For women at high risk, screening may begin earlier and be supplemented with breast ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), depending on individual circumstances, but without replacing mammography,” she added.

Breast awareness also plays an important role in helping women identify new changes, such as the appearance of a lump, skin changes, redness or nipple discharge. However, Jahaj emphasised that self-examination does not replace mammography or other diagnostic methods.

“Self-examination, or what we more accurately call ‘breast self-awareness’, is a simple way of understanding what is normal for your breasts and recognising any changes that may occur. Particular attention should be paid to the appearance of a new lump, skin changes, redness or nipple discharge. However, it is important to stress that not every breast lump is cancerous and that self-examination does not replace mammography or other diagnostic methods,” she added.

Jahaj said that breast cancer treatment relies on the collaboration of a multidisciplinary team comprising a surgical oncologist, a clinical oncologist, a radiation oncologist, a radiologist and a pathologist.

According to the doctor, surgery remains one of the main pillars of treatment. Depending on the tumour’s biological characteristics, its size, the patient’s age and the extent of the disease, breast-conserving surgery or a mastectomy may be chosen, with breast reconstruction also an option where appropriate.

“In recent years, breast oncology has advanced rapidly in Albania. Anti-HER2 targeted therapies have been introduced, along with combinations of hormone therapy and CDK4/6 inhibitors, as well as immunotherapy for triple-negative tumours, significantly improving survival rates. Our challenge is not only to have the necessary expertise, but also to ensure that patients have access to these treatments at the right time,” Jahaj emphasised.

In conclusion, Jahaj urges women not to postpone medical check-ups out of fear of a diagnosis.

“Prioritise your health. Fear should not be a reason to avoid a check-up. Timely screening saves lives,” the oncologist and radiotherapist appeals.

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According to the Ministry’s statement, a Member of the Parliament of Albania, a media representative and four protesters sought care at the “Mother Teresa” University Hospital Center.

All six have since been released from the hospital after receiving treatment.

Meanwhile, a police officer and a media representative received treatment at the University Trauma Hospital; their health condition is reported to be stable. /e.xh/r.e/p.s./

In a social media post marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month, also known as Pink October, the hospital highlighted the importance of regular check-ups and raising awareness about breast health.

“Every case requires careful assessment and medical follow-up tailored to the patient’s needs,” the hospital said.

QSUT stressed that breast health care begins with self-awareness and timely medical check-ups, describing them as an important part of efforts to prevent breast diseases and ensure early diagnosis.

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