Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Klodiana Spahiu, stated that for the first time, the 2027 budget provides for funding of a PET scanner in the public sector for health care.
During a hearing in the Committee on Economy, Employment and Finance, Spahiu said that a fund of 250 million lekë is foreseen for this investment, for around 2,500 patients.
“The project will be carried out in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency. For 2027, we have also planned brachytherapy equipment. It is ready for procurement,” Spahiu said.
Minister Spahiu emphasized that the goal for the 2027-2029 period is the transition to a system that assesses the quality and efficiency of services.
“We want to move from a system that focuses on financing structures and services toward a system that evaluates quality, efficiency and results for the patient,” she stated.
Regarding primary care, Spahiu said that 7.51 million visits have been planned, with a fund of 1.6 billion lekë. The Check-Up program will continue with funding of 876 million lekë, through public structures.
“The ceiling has been removed and we are offering Check-Up without an age limit, aiming to also cover the third age, with around 100 thousand more basic check-ups,” the minister said.
She also announced the expansion of HPV vaccination, with a switch from the quadrivalent to the nonavalent vaccine and the inclusion of boys in the program, as well as funding of 20 thousand HPV molecular tests, with a fund of 60 million lekë.