In her speech, Minister Koçi mentioned that there are now more opportunities and choices available, allowing doctors to not only select the hospital where they wish to work but also benefit from various incentives that promote contributions to the public healthcare sector.

“Since 2013, salaries, which are one of the main incentives for choosing a profession, have doubled. Today, a doctor’s salary is 1600 euros, and a nurse’s salary is 1200 euros, providing a strong financial motivation to join the public healthcare sector. Additionally, we have focused on improving the conditions and infrastructure, not just in hospitals, but also in healthcare centers. We have invested in 450 healthcare centers to enhance the healthcare infrastructure,” Koçi stated.

She went on saying that considerable investments have been made in state-of-the-art medical equipment, enabling every healthcare professional to accurately diagnose and treat patients, while also allowing them to fully advance in their profession.

Furthermore, the Minister of Health mentioned a series of new incentives designed to support doctors and nurses, including a program offering interest-free loans.

“One of the latest programs is the zero-interest loan program, which enabled 85 doctors to purchase their first home. Additionally, we provided 45 more quotas for doctors, including nurses. Another good news is that we are preparing the next decision to offer more quotas for doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals to receive zero-interest loans. We have also doubled the bonus for young doctors and healthcare professionals who choose to serve in rural areas, contributing to their communities,” emphasized Koçi.

Addressing the intern students, Minister Koçi also discussed their medical specializations. “If you choose to sign a contract with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection (MSHMS), you will have the opportunity to be paid 80% of the general doctor’s salary during your specialization years. For those who choose specialties like emergency medicine or family medicine, which are priority fields for us, we have waived the formal test requirement. During their specialization, they will be paid 100% of the general doctor’s salary,” she stated.

In conclusion, Minister Albana Koçi discussed the hospital autonomy reform, which enables hospitals to independently manage their budgets, staff, healthcare services, and equipment, reducing reliance on the government and Ministry of Health’s budget.

/sm/