World Bank allocates 32.1 mln euros for Albanian health system

The World Bank Group's Board of Executive Directors has approved 32.1 million euros (about 36 million U.S. dollars) in IBRD financing for the Health System Improvement Project in Albania, according to Albanian daily news report on Sunday.

The total project cost is 36.1 million euros, with the remainder co-financed by the government of Albania. The project will support improving the efficiency of care in selected hospitals in Albania, improving the management of information in the health system, and increasing financial access to health services.

"Key health system performance indicators in Albania are mixed. While health outcomes are relatively strong by regional standards, quality of care is a significant concern. The sector suffers from inefficiencies and inequities," said a press release issued by the World Bank.

"The health sector reforms are complex, and there is still a large unfinished agenda," World Bank Country Manager for Albania Tahseen Sayed said.

The chairman of the Health Department at Albanian opposition Democratic Party (DP), Tritan Shehu reacted over the fact that the World Bank will support the health system, saying that it is positive as WB has granted loans to Albania since 1991.

But he noted that WB noticed many problems that have not been resolved yet by the current government and corruption remains a concerning phenomenon in the health system. Endit