Speaking to reporters, Kato said Japan’s development cooperation with Albania is centered on two main pillars: environmental sustainability and inclusive growth.

“Japan’s development assistance policy for Albania focuses on balanced and sustainable economic development. The two main pillars of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) are ‘Environment’ and ‘Inclusive Growth’,” she said.

According to the ambassador, Japanese support covers environmental protection and management, water and waste management, disaster risk reduction and prevention, as well as efforts to reduce disparities in access to economic and social services between urban and rural areas.

Asked by the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) about the expertise Japan seeks to bring to Albania, Kato underscored the importance of technical cooperation.

“Japan provides official development assistance through a variety of instruments, including technical cooperation, development loans and grants. Technical cooperation is particularly important because it combines financial support with the transfer of knowledge, skills and practical expertise,” she said.

She noted that such cooperation is implemented through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), while Japan also provides development loans and grant assistance.

Through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) programme, Japan has supported community-level initiatives addressing basic human needs and delivering direct benefits to local communities.

“By 2025, the programme had implemented 80 projects across Albania, benefiting local authorities, public hospitals, public schools and non-governmental organizations,” Kato said.

The ambassador highlighted the long-standing ties between the two countries, which date back to 1922, noting that development cooperation had been underway even before the opening of the Japanese Embassy in Albania in 2017.

Kato also pointed to Japan’s regional engagement through the Western Balkans Cooperation Initiative, launched by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2018. The initiative supports the Western Balkans’ socio-economic reforms and EU integration efforts, while promoting regional cooperation and reconciliation.

Within this framework, Japan has supported projects addressing shared regional challenges, including wildfire prevention and management, as well as water resource management and drought-related issues, she said.

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Speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting, Malaj said stronger economic performance during the first five months of the year had created the fiscal space needed to finance new measures, including higher social spending, additional healthcare investment, increased defence funding in line with NATO commitments and an expansion of the state’s sovereign loan guarantee scheme.

The revised budget allocates an additional 872 million leks to bring forward the annual pension indexation to July 1.

It also doubles financial support for children with disabilities, benefiting 10,720 recipients from July 1, 2026, through an additional 750 million leks in funding.

The government will also cover social security and health insurance contributions for caregivers of people with disabilities, at an estimated cost of 2 billion leks, Malaj said.

The healthcare sector will receive an additional 1.5 billion leks for oncology medicines, while salaries for emergency medical staff will be increased and additional funding provided for firefighters’ overtime pay.

In defence, the government has allocated an additional 10.3 billion leks, raising defence spending to 2.6% of gross domestic product, in line with NATO commitments and the military’s modernisation needs, Malaj said.

The government also expanded its sovereign loan guarantee scheme, increasing its size to 5 billion leks from 3 billion leks and extending eligibility to small and medium-sized enterprises across a wider range of sectors.

Malaj said the budget revision also includes additional fiscal and social measures aimed at strengthening the economy and supporting priority sectors.

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“Albania strongly supports the WHO as the foundation of global health security, universal coverage, and evidence-based policymaking,” said Sala.

In her speech, the minister presented the main priorities of the health reform, emphasizing the strengthening of primary health care, the digital transformation of the system and investments in the modernization of hospital infrastructure and increasing the capacities of health personnel.

“On World Family Doctor Day, we celebrate the physicians who are the heartbeat of our communities. We are strengthening primary care to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare for all citizens, prioritizing early diagnosis, and chronic disease management close to home,” she said.

Minister Sala also emphasized the significance of expanding digital services and data-driven insights will streamline policy-making and improve collaboration between health providers. This transformation ensures a faster, more transparent experience for the public.

She highlighted two key priorities: modernizing hospital facilities and upskilling healthcare personnel as the backbone of the system, alongside building stronger emergency response and preparedness capabilities.

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Addressing the First Congress of AI in Oncology, Minister Sala highlighted the Albanian diaspora as a vital force behind Albania’s healthcare modernization, praising their contributions to adopting new technologies and advancing cancer treatment protocols.

The congress is organized by the European Association for Artificial Intelligence and Scientific Research on Tumor, led by Albanian physician Arsela Prelaj.

“I am incredibly proud that an Albanian diaspora oncologist is in the chair of this Congress. It is a testament to the vital role our experts abroad play in partnering with us to elevate Albania’s oncology system, creating a tangible, positive impact from the Institute of Oncology to regional centers and the national network”, she said.

“We are working intensively to combine digital systems, improve technology and implement artificial intelligence in healthcare. Albania is a small country where we are combining technology and artificial intelligence, creating a national model,” the minister said.

Minister Sala underlined that this transformation constitutes an important opportunity for the creation of an integrated national model, which can serve as a successful practice for other countries, as well. /j.p/p.s./

The Health Care Services Operator reported that during 2025 there were administered 20,048 rapid tests (RT) for COVID-19, of which about 1,793 resulted positive, accounting for about 9% of the total.

Rapid tests for Covid 19 continue to remain one of the main tools for the early identification of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

While seasonal viruses circulate in the country, there are still people affected by Covid 19.

Early testing remains one of the most important ways to curb the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health of citizens.

Rapid tests for Covid 19 are distinguished by their speedy results, usually within 15–20 minutes. /e.i/j.p/p.s./

The article “Returning Home to Transform Healthcare” carries this conversation in which she reflects on a lifelong link to medicine, a scientific journey rooted in innovation and cancer research, and her commitment to build a more equitable, modern and patient-centered health system for Albania.

In the quality of Minister of Health and Social Protection, Evis Sala covers not only health, but also social welfare, a portfolio she describes as huge.

In the health sector, Sala has identified three major areas, Oncology and the Albanian Cancer Network, A Unified Diagnostic System and Artificial Intelligence and Digital Integration.

“We need to improve cancer services in Albania,” said Sala, who plans to establish the Albanian Cancer Network, with an Oncology Institute in Tirana at its center.

Diagnostics is another area closely related to her professional background and Sala aims to build a well-integrated diagnostic system throughout the country.

With a population of around 2.4 million, she noted that, “Albania is like a big city, not even very big, if you think about some global urban centers.”

The third pillar is artificial intelligence and digital health, closely related to both oncology and diagnostics.

Early next year, she expects to have a full mapping of these three strategic areas and concrete action plans. “We will have mapped the areas, defined the actions, identified the teams and planned the financing because financing must be planned in advance”, underlines the minister.

Beyond health, Minister Sala is aware of the challenges and opportunities in the field of social welfare.

Albania is getting ready to take an historic step: membership in the European Union in 2029. “These four years are a very historic moment for us, to focus simultaneously on both health and social welfare”, said Sala, where a main focus is legal approximation, especially in the field of social welfare.

Her motivation at the head of the Ministry of Health is to use all her experience, almost 30 years in different countries, health systems and circumstances, to make a difference in the homeland. /p.s./

Present at the event organized today within the framework of the “Health Integrity Week”, Sala emphasized the role of institutions in the integrity of quality healthcare services.

In her speech, Sala said that, “Without strong institutions, without responsible policies, without a state that guarantees ethics and integrity, neither medicine nor doctors can advance their human mission”.

While highlighting improvement in healthcare service standards and the digitalization of processes that improve quality, Sala listed some of the concrete steps that have been taken in this direction.

“On our path to Albania 2030, integrity in healthcare is not simply a professional necessity, it is a political criterion, it is a strategic commitment and it is a European standard that our country must and will fulfill. We have begun implementation of electronic prescriptions and every day 20 thousand citizens receive their electronically reimbursed prescription and 7 thousand are referred to the health “referral system”, said Sala.

The minister also said that there are made efforts to raise awareness and protect the integrity of the healthcare system, while underlining that integrity in healthcare is not only a professional issue, it is a matter of public morality, democratic culture and the political vision of a country”.

“Without honesty, transparency, clear communication and respect for the patient, there can be no trust; and without trust, there can be no functioning healthcare system. Healthcare is the most direct contract between the state and the citizen. And we are determined that this contract will be sustainable, fair and without compromise”, concluded Sala.

During the event, there was also emphasized that integrity in healthcare is the foundation on which trust is built between citizens and the healthcare system, implying transparency, accountability and fair action in every link of medical care, from institutional decision-making to the daily practice of professionals.

This event was organized by the Ministry of State for Public Administration and Anti-Corruption, in cooperation with the Embassy of Switzerland to Albania and the “Institute on Governance” (Basel). /k.s/a.f/p.s./

During the visit, the minister praised the work of the medical staff and highlighted the infrastructure made available to cope with the influx of visitors in the summer months, emphasizing the significance of these centers for providing a fast, effective service that is as near as possible to citizens.

The minister also underlined that the services in these centers are free of charge for everyone, regardless of whether they are residents of Albania or not.

“We offer the service equally to those who are not residents of Albania, free of charge, without queues, without waiting lists and without reservations”, stated Koçiu.

In this context, the minister also encouraged young people who have recently graduated in the field of medicine to get involved in these centers, in order to gain their first practical experience.

Focusing on the work and effectiveness of the summer medical center in Golem, Koçiu stated that, ” Since June 1st, when it opened, this center has received over 3 thousand visits” and added that, “The center will continue to be open until the end of August.” /m.m//a.f/p.s./

Minister Koçiu stated in a post in the social media that this budget will be oriented towards greater investments in hospitals, medical centers, personnel and better quality services for the citizens.

“So, 12.57% of the state budget or 3.94% of the Gross Domestic Product goes to the Ministry of Health,” Koçiu said.

“This budget will continue to support the three-year program for the complete rehabilitation of 107 new medical centers throughout the country for the period 2025-2027”, she added. /r.e/a.f/p.s./

Addressing the interpellation session with Health Minister Albana Koçiu in parliament, the opposition lawmaker Gjergji said that “last week, everyone realized that the free healthcare image finally collapsed.”

“Free healthcare for all has now succumbed to the cancer, right where this disease is supposed to be fought, at the Oncology hospital halls and rooms,” she said.

“Ironically, the tax-funded healthcare system gave last breath because of the metastasis that has spread throughout the health system; corruption. After the autopsy of the free healthcare, we saw that the cause was the corruption practices of the government, the cabinet members, former cabinet members, directors and former directors, coordinators and now the doctors themselves, with their white coat often tainted by the political propaganda to divert the citizens’ attention from the truth behind this failure,” Gjergji stated.

According to her, the Prime Minister and the Health Minister are to be blamed for the current situation in the country’s health system.

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