Overview

Albania’s healthcare system focuses predominantly on public hospitals and public health services, though private healthcare has become increasingly popular. The Ministry of Health and Social Protection (MoHSP) takes a leading role in the public sector. The MoHSP develops health policies, proposes the national health care budget, and monitors state-owned health institutions. The Compulsory Healthcare Insurance Fund (ISKSH) is based on payroll contributions by employees and employers and subsidized by the government. Patients rely on ISKSH for reimbursement of prescription pharmaceuticals and approved services by private secondary and tertiary providers.

Albania’s public healthcare sector has 22 district hospitals, 11 regional hospitals, and four university hospitals. The country also has one trauma university center, two psychiatric hospitals, and the National Centre on Child Development and Rehabilitation. The system is financed by the state budget and public institutions directly purchase equipment, pharmaceuticals, and services. The Law on Public Procurement requires open electronic tenders for all purchases of goods and services. All opportunities are published online at the Agency of Public Procurement (http://app.gov.al/).

The government in recent years has granted several major public hospital service concessions through a public private partnership model, including for laboratory services, provision of sterile surgical instruments, medical waste treatment, and basic health check-ups for citizens aged 35-70.

The private sector is also developing at a fast pace. The number of clinics for specialized diagnosis has increased significantly in major urban areas and the number of private hospitals is growing. Tirana has four major private hospitals, including the American Hospital, Hygeia, German Hospital, and Salus Hospital, and several other smaller hospitals and clinics.

The dental sector is entirely private. The number of dental and orthodontic clinics has increased significantly over the last decade and clinics often invest in the latest technology. Dental tourism is also growing.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased the demand of the public healthcare sector for additional ICUs as well as COVID-19 related equipment and devices, including PPE. In addition, the GOA has embarked on a large investment program to increase the healthcare capacities in hospitals across the country.

Leading Sub-Sectors

During 2020, Albania imported under the HTS codes 9018, 9019, 9020, 9021, and 9022 around $46 million.  The best export prospects include equipment and medical devices in the categories of medical imaging, ultrasound, monitors, and anesthesia; dental; diagnostic and surgical microscopes; endoscopes; and blood diagnostics.

A list of companies present in the Albanian market and their products according to categories follows:

Medical Imaging, Ultrasound, Monitors & Anesthesia

GE Healthcare, Siemens, Toshiba, Hitachi, Philips, Shimadzu, Hologic, Konica Minolta, Mindray, Esaote, Carestream, Fujifilm, Canon, Agfa, Samsung Medison, EcoRay, GMM, GMI, MESA-MEDICAL, Agilent, Fukuda Denshi, Samsung Medison, Alpinion, Drager, Eppendorf, Penlon.

Dental: Kavo, Siemens, Sirona, Anthos, Ritter, Degudent, Vitali SRL, Faro, Dentaurum, MyRay, Villa Sistemi Medicali, YOSHIDA DENTAL, Heraeus-Kulzer, Carestream Dental, Planmeca, Castellini, Gnatus, UFSK, Ivoclar Vivadent AG, MIDMARK, ULTRADENT Dental-Medizinische.

Diagnostic & Surgical microscopes:

Haag-Streit, Ellex, Zeiss, Leica, Shinippon, Takagi, Nikon, Nidek, Tomey, Topcon, Huvitz, Reinchert, Motic, Atmos, Alcon, Wallach, Alltion, Karl Kaps, Oculus, Optopol technology, Breukhoven, CSO Costruzione Strumenti Oftalmici, Optopol Technology, Quantel Medical, Lightmed.

Endoscopes

Fujifilm, Olympus, Otopront, Huger, Pentax, Strorz, Applied, Vision.

Blood Diagnostic

Abbott, Roche, Becton Dickinson, Siemens, Thermo Scientific, ELITech Group, Beckman Coulter International S.A, Dirui.

All medical equipment should register with The National Agency of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices (http://akbpm.gov.al/?lang=en)

Opportunities

Products representing export opportunities for U.S. manufacturers include: diagnostic imaging (CT, MRI) and radiation therapy equipment, computer tomography imaging equipment, electrocardiographs, cardiovascular diagnostic equipment, pacemakers, digitalized x-ray equipment, clinical laboratory equipment, non-invasive surgical devices, anesthesia and intensive care equipment, ultrasound equipment, urology equipment, laboratory and testing equipment, tissue and blood bank related equipment, needles, catheters, medical lasers, endoscopes, laser instruments, and dentistry equipment and products.

Interested companies should visit the Agency of Public Procurement Portal  (http://app.gov.al/)to monitor public sector tenders. The private market also presents opportunities, and interested companies should engage local dealers, agents, representatives, or partners for assistance. In addition to the Albanian Procurement platform, companies should also monitor announcements by the World Bank, which in the past has financed improvements to Albania’s health sector.

For more information on the Albanian healthcare system the following resources might be useful.

Resources

• Ministry of Health
• Public Procurement Agency (http://app.gov.al/)
• American Hospital
• Hygeia Group
• German Hospital
• Salus Hospital
• The National Agency of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices (http://akbpm.gov.al/?lang=en)