While 2018 saw a shrinkage of the number of foreigners who received health care in Albania, it seems that in 2019 the fate is smiling to businesses in the field. According to the latest figures of INSTAT, for the first six months of the year, the number of Albanian citizens' access to healthcare was 444, an increase of 270% compared to the same period of the previous year, which were 120. Recall that throughout the year 2018, the total number was 276.
For the growth of health tourism figures, market players argue that there was a better co-ordination, which began at the end of last year between domestic health providers (mostly private) and foreign and Albanian agencies attract tourists.
Erjona Shahini, director of Health Tourism Albania, told Monitor that they had high demands this year and clients generally come from Italy.
"The highest demands are made by Italians, who contact us directly through social networks, or through our Partner Agencies. This is due to the proximity between the two countries. This year, we have given a lot of attention to communication and marketing even to a country like England, because the data show that the demands in this area, which was previously uncharted, have increased. Funding shortages, medical staff cuts, long waiting lists, and uncertainties about Brex make English patients explore "low cost" options outside their home country, "says Ms. Shahin.
Plastic interventions are the main asset Albania has had in recent years to attract foreigners. And that, says dr. Skerdilajd Faria, head of "Keit" clinic, was mainly due to Italian, Turkish or Greek doctors who worked in Albania in the last 10 years and have announced this "awards" to their compatriots .
Market actors claim that Italians generally come to Albania to regulate the nose, as prices are 50% cheaper than in Italy, while British are also preferring In vitro services.
Why Albania?
Along with its low profile in international health care, Albania has started to be attractive to tourists. International flights connect Tirana Airport with most of the destinations in the world.
Foreign media, which characterize Albania as a country with no dangers and exceptional natural beauty, have been added in the last few years. Tirana has become a modern city where English is widely spoken, tourism infrastructure is good and foreign visitors will have a safe and secure stay.
Private clinics are working in this direction, as their location is mainly in the capital, to attract potential foreign clients. Plastic surgery is seeing a higher development than other interventions, because according to market players, the emergence of such an intervention is not high (mainly done for pleasure and not needing health, unlike other interventions), thing which enables them to have fun as tourists.
Albania continues to be preferred in dental tourism as a result of favorable prices and affiliated clinics with foreign partner agencies, hair planting services, highly sought after by private hospitals in the country, IN Vitro , which is mainly preferred by Italians and British, as well as plastic surgery changes, leading the rhinoplasty, lips and chest remodeling.
Source: Monitor
