Doctor Ilir Alimehmeti has raised serious concerns about the lack of investment in the Oncology Hospital, describing this situation as a lack of will and not a lack of opportunities.
Invited to the show “A Show”, Alimehmeti emphasized that the health budget is the lowest in Europe, reaching only 2.9% of the gross domestic product, while the needs for treatment are increasing.
Alimehmeti also denounced the reduction of funds and beds in the Oncology Hospital, emphasizing that this lack of investment leads to tragic consequences for patients.
Ilir Alimehmeti: It is a lack of will, not a lack of opportunities. Why, because we see the will of the Prime Minister since the beginning of the year when he allocates the budget. The health budget is the lowest in Europe. 2.9% of the gross domestic product, in Oncology in particular. Meanwhile, we find that there are more cases, statistics say. That there are more hospitalizations and they are directed to the hospital. That the number of deaths is increasing year by year.
Do you know what happened to the Oncology fund? It has not increased, but has decreased. Do you know what happened to the number of Oncology beds? It has not increased, but has decreased. So, in the face of the greater need to intervene, this reduces the possibility of providing care. And here is another element. All of these are in Tirana, but there are also sick people in Shkodra, Korça, Fier, Vlora, Kukës, all of Albania is sick. Its principle is this, ‘we have what we have, that’s all we have, whoever has it far away, we have nothing to do’. The principle should be, ‘healthcare should go to the patient and not the patient to the health care’. This is the basic principle.
And in the end, what happens? Grounds are created to create the most diverse problems, which ultimately cost people’s lives and health. Why? There is enough money and a calculation has been made of how much it should be needed to cover all the different axes and in the end I will give some concrete figures that do not cost more than 20-30 million euros annually, total. Everything that has to do with Oncology. And in fact, in the program of the Democratic Party is this, the creation of a national tumor institution, similar to what all European countries have. So, an institute is created that is here and that extends everywhere. The money is. 20 million euros, abuse of 1 kilometer of road are in Albania.
