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Albania Health Insurance
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Recommended by guidebook publishers Lonely Planet as the number one
country in the world to visit in 2011, the Republic of
Albania, home to a population of almost 3 million is located
in south east Europe, bordered by Greece, Kosovo, the Republic
of Macedonia and Montenegro. Albania has 362 kilometers of
coastline fronting the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, and is a
relatively small country covering a land area of only 28,748
square kilometers. Formerly a communist state, Albania
isolated itself for nearly fifty years, however has since 1991
embraced democracy, moving to integrate itself with the
European Community and NATO. Despite the economy being one of
the weakest in Europe, improvements have resulted from a
number of legislative and fiscal government-driven reforms,
introduced to attract investors. Albania’s capital, Tirana is
home to nearly 433,000 inhabitants and is the country’s
cultural, economic and political hub. Following the fall of
communism, Tirana’s elected mayor invited all citizens to
paint the city to cover the dreary Soviet era architecture,
transforming it into a bright and colorful city, with a lively
atmosphere and vibrant nightlife.
Albania also boasts unspoiled, white sandy beaches,
intriguing ancient towns and beautiful seascape, complimented
by a mild Mediterranean climate. Berat, which remained a
museum city throughout the communist regime, is another draw
for visitors interested to see the white Ottoman houses which
earn it the title ‘town of a thousand windows’. Although
tourism is still a fledgling industry in Albania, it has seen
rapid improvement in recent years, particularly in ecotourism,
with heavy investment in accommodation and hospitality
facilities. The industry is still hampered however by local
management issues. Given travel or taking up residence in any
country carries some risk, and particularly so in developing
countries, a comprehensive international medical and travel
insurance plan, which covers all the activities one expects to
undertake, is recommended. Travel advisories for Albania also
note such policies should include a provision for air
evacuation. The official language is Albanian however due to
the proximity and influences of other countries Greek,
Romania, Vlach and Slavic dialects are also spoken.
Albania Health Care and Insurance
The Albanian government, and more specifically the Ministry of Health
and Environmental Protection (MOH) is the main healthcare
provider for the Albanian people. The MOH’s system consists of
78 hospitals in total, of which there are 22 district
hospitals, 41 public, 4 university hospitals and 11 regional.
These facilities deliver services at three levels of
healthcare; primary, secondary and tertiary. In addition to
these hospitals, there are emergency rooms, health units,
pediatric and maternity clinics, hygiene centers and
polyclinics that function within the system. According to
figures provided by the MOH, for every 100,000 Albanians there
are 51 general practitioners, 33 dentists, 406 nurses, 291
hospital beds and 1.4 hospitals. Visitors to Albania hoping to
rely on the public health service should be aware that
facilities are not comparable to western standards however, as
they are often of poor quality and extremely limited outside
the capital. Basic medical supplies are also frequently in
short supply. Expatriates with a medical condition that has an
ongoing medication requirement are recommended to take enough
medicines to last their trip as some medications ordinarily
available at home are unlikely to be readily available in
Albania.
In addition to the public sector there is a well-established
and well-funded private sector, which includes high-tech
treatment and diagnostic services and offers a much higher
level of care. As is the case with private sector healthcare,
the cost of such services are considerable and therefore out
of reach for the majority of locals. Only those with an
international health insurance policy can usually access such
services, as Albania’s state insurance fund does not cover
costs incurred through private facilities. Working in
conjunction with the private sector are dental clinics, which
travel advisories recommended expatriates do not use as many
dental practitioners lack adequate training and equipment
shortages are common. Emergency services and major medical
care are often inadequate both within the public and private
sectors hence transportation to Greece for specialist care may
be required. It is therefore necessary to ensure that air
evacuation is included in an Albania medical insurance policy.
Formally designated a developing country on the Human
Development Index, which is a standard measure of well-being
and takes into account living standards, education, and life
expectancy, Albania was ranked 64th in 2010, out of the 170
United Nations member states. This positioning has highlighted
the need for assistance, of which many international
organizations have heeded the call and aided the government in
its reform and modernization of the health system including
the UN, UNICEF, USAID and non-governmental organizations.
Despite this aid, Albanians living in rural areas, especially
those in the north-east, still have limited options with
regard to health care, reflected in negative outcomes in
health statistics and represented in a lower standard of
living compared to city-based populations. Child mortality in
urban areas is much lower than that of rural areas, at 5
deaths out of 1,000 compared with 35 out of 1,000 highlighting
the gap between districts and their facilities. On a whole
however, Albanian men have an average life expectancy of 74
years and women, 80 years.
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Albania's medical insurance industry is
a fast paced ever evolving market however our staff are
experts and at your disposal. |
Expatriates and Travelers in Albania
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Albania Health Insurance Concerns
One of the biggest risks to health and safety for travelers and
expatriates in Albania are vehicles. Albanians are
inexperienced drivers; most have been in charge of a vehicle
for less than ten years. This combined with the poor condition
of roads and regular disregard for traffic laws, makes road
usage hazardous. Albania has one of the highest
traffic-fatality rates across all of Europe, hence travel
advisories recommend that caution is exercised at all times,
whether one is driving or a pedestrian. Visitors and residents
are also recommended to ensure they have comprehensive expat
health insurance which covers the cost of medical evacuation,
which could likely result if an individual sustains severe
trauma from a road accident. Crime is relatively low in
Albania, although there have been some cases of crime
targeting the expat community, typically though, violence and
crime is related to business or political motives. As is the
case with travel to all countries, visitors should be aware of
opportunist criminals, keeping their personal belongings safe
at all times and electronic items and jewelry hidden. If
travelling in the mountainous region in the north or Vlora,
caution is advised as there are still a number of cases were
confrontation occurs between rival criminal organizations.
Political demonstrations are common in the capital and it is
recommended that expatriates avoid large gatherings where
possible as the potential exists to be drawn in as an
unintentional target. Although usually peaceful, public
protests have occasionally turned violent.
Tap water in Albania is unsafe for consumption therefore
visitors should ensure they only drink bottled water, which is
widely available. Locals jokingly refer to the country’s
unsafe tap water as Hoxha’s revenge, Hoxha being a former
prime minister in the communist era. The US Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention recommends Hepatitis A and
Hepatitis B inoculations for those planning on travelling to
Albania. Exposure to Hepatitis A occurs through food and
water, and is one of the most common diseases contracted
whilst travelling. To avoid exposure, along with drinking only
bottled water visitors should ensure that easily contaminated
foods are cooked thoroughly and that hand-washing or an
alcohol-based gel is used prior to eating. A rabies
inoculation is also recommended for travelers that may be
involved in any activities involving carnivores, bats and
other mammals. There are a large number of stray dogs roaming
the streets of Albania, from which visitors should refrain
from petting.
Albania Expat Health Insurance
Expatriates and visitors to Albania can expect a health care system
that does not meet western standards. Expatriates should avoid
all dental treatment and take enough medicines with them to
last their trip. Private facilities can provide care for some
emergencies however it is highly possible a situation may
arise which could necessitate air evacuation to Greece.
Evacuation by Air Ambulance can be extremely expensive and
travel advisories recommend that those visiting Albania take
out comprehensive insurance to cover such occurrences.
International Medical Insurance can provide a free quotation
for policy benefits that cover all your travel and medical
requirements, including emergency medical evacuation,
specialist consultations and doctor’s fees. Call one of our
experienced advisors today to discuss a policy specific to
your needs.
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