TIRANA, July  5 /ATA/ Students of Medicine in the 2023-2024 academic year should serve the country for 5 years after completing their studies to receive their diploma.

The news was announced by Prime Minister Edi Rama in a media statement after the government meeting.

“Today I want to give a message regarding an important decision of the government about medical students and the obligation to serve the country for a certain time. The details will be explained by the ministers, but it is very clear for every citizen of the Republic of Albania who pays taxes,” Rama said.

Prime Minister Rama said that “the state finances the public university, in this case the training of young doctors to protect life and guarantee the health of all citizens. It is not the same as other professions, it is a profession directly related to the obligation of every state to care for people’s health and the right of every citizen and family, child and elderly to access health care.”

Ram went on saying: As Germany and other rich countries are struggling with their demographics, with the aging of the population, with the need for young human resources that come from abroad, they have become the last stop for many professionals and for many qualified people of all fields and in the case of doctors, we absolutely need to take this step which is the most pragmatic and easiest step possible.

“Every high school graduate who will get into the University of Medicine should be aware of the fact that studying for medicine lasts as long as it should, and after that it takes 5 more years in the service of this people to get the diploma. For those in the process, the year span is shorter, scaled down, but it’s their choice.”

While for those who will enter the first year, there is only one choice. If they want to study medicine at the public university, they must accept this condition, and it is not a condition, but it is the new format of the University of Medicine. In terms of receiving the diploma, nothing changes, in terms of exercising the profession, it must be done here for 5 years, that’s why the Albanian people pay taxes. The doctors who are trained with symbolic fees and at the university which is supported by the taxes of the Albanian people.

But, Rama said, those who are currently at the university are not denied the right to leave if they want to, but for the remaining years they will have to pay another fee, which will be determined by the university according to the law, which fully covers the costs and the university’s need to train a student.

/sm/