This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.
Last Published: 6/24/2019

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 (MoH) takes a leading role in the public sector. The MoH 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 drugs 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 and services. The Law on Public Procurement requires open electronic tenders for all purchases of goods and services.

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 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.


Leading Sub-Sectors

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.


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  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.


Web Resources

Ministry of Health

Public Procurement Agency

American Hospital

Hygeia Group

German Hospital

Salus Hospital

The National Agency of Drugs and Medical Devices

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.