Health and Social Welfare Minister Klodiana Spahiu received the certification during her first meeting in Albania with the new head of the WHO country office, Dr Fabio Scano, on Tuesday.

Scano presented Spahiu with the ETAGE certification, issued by WHO/Europe, confirming that Albania has achieved the European targets for hepatitis B control through immunisation.

The meeting also covered priorities including improving and protecting public health, strengthening the healthcare system and primary care, disease prevention, mental health, hospital reform and healthcare staffing, the ministry said.

Spahiu said the two sides had also discussed two strategic areas of cooperation, including a planned joint WHO-Ministry of Health project focused on public health in the Western Balkans.

“A joint WHO and Ministry of Health and Social Welfare project for public health in the Western Balkans will begin. This initiative, discussed at the highest level of cooperation between Albania and WHO/Europe, would be particularly important for strengthening Albania’s subregional role in public health,” Spahiu said.

She also highlighted cooperation with WHO in the context of Albania’s European integration in healthcare, particularly technical support to align health policies, legislation and the regulatory framework with EU legislation and standards.

Spahiu wished Scano success in his new role and reaffirmed Albania’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with WHO.

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The Public Health Institute (ISHP) said no cases of hepatitis B had been recorded in children aged 0 – 14 for more than a decade.

“Because of this achievement, Albania will be certified by WHO for the elimination of hepatitis B in the pediatric age group,” Artan Simaku, an ISHP specialist, told media.

The milestone follows a national study conducted by ISHP in cooperation with WHO and is attributed mainly to the systematic vaccination of newborns within the first 24 hours after birth.

“Hepatitis B is a viral infection affecting the liver and can cause cirrhosis or liver cancer in its chronic form,” Simaku said.

According to WHO, viral hepatitis infections cause around 3,500 deaths globally each day. The disease remains widespread among high-risk groups such as intravenous drug users, people with hemophilia, and those who have undergone multiple blood transfusions, where infection rates can reach 70-80%.

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