Strengthening active and healthy ageing policies, expanding health and social services, and involving older people in decision-making are the main priorities of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. One of the new initiatives is the establishment, for the first time, of the National Council of Older Persons, within the framework of the National Action Plan on Ageing 2025–2030.
During her speech at the National Conference on Active and Inclusive Ageing, Minister of Health and Social Welfare Klodiana Spahiu stressed that the new plan aims to go beyond healthcare and social support, also guaranteeing the direct representation of older people in decision-making processes. “We have a national action plan on ageing, which is the second plan and comes with new challenges. The 2025–2030 plan is much more ambitious. We aim for policies that support not only the medical aspect, but also the social and societal dimension. One of the most important steps will be the establishment of the National Council of Older Persons, because it is essential that their voice is heard. Only by listening to their needs and concerns can we build policies that truly respond to them,” Minister Spahiu said.
Another support instrument is the Free Counselling Helpline for Older People which, according to Minister Spahiu, has been set up in line with the best European practices, offering information, guidance and counselling, especially for people living in remote areas of the country. According to Spahiu, expanding social services in communities also remains a focus. Spahiu said that 98 new services have been supported through the Social Fund, 25 of which are dedicated to older people. The 2027 budget aims to guarantee the continuity of funding and the strengthening of these services, enabling more sustainable care that is closer to home.
In public health, an important step is the expansion of the free medical check-up programme, by removing the upper age limit, thereby including older people in prevention and early diagnosis services. In parallel, specialised care for this age group is being expanded through the establishment of a Geriatrics service at the “Mother Teresa” University Hospital Centre, as well as work to extend it to four municipal hospitals, with the aim of covering all geographic areas of the country.
“A new policy, on which we have worked intensively, also in cooperation with the Institute of Public Health, is the establishment of a Geriatrics service at the ‘Mother Teresa’ University Hospital Centre. We are working to make this service available in four of Albania’s municipal hospitals as well, so that specialised care reaches all geographic areas,” said Minister Spahiu. Through these initiatives, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare aims to build a more integrated model of care for older people, where health and social services are combined with their active participation in society and decision-making, guaranteeing greater dignity, security and quality of life.