On 10 March, the Mother Teresa University Hospital in Tirana received a CT (computed tomography) scanner, as part of the EU’s €4.2 million emergency support programme, EU4Health. The CT scanner will be crucial in both the prevention and the fight against COVID 19, serving to both investigate conditions of COVID-19 hospitalised patients and supporting laboratory diagnostics and testing.

EU Ambassador to Albania, Luigi Soreca, and Albanian Minister of Health and Social Protection, Ogerta Manastirliu, were present at the delivery of this advanced equipment to the hospital’s radiology department. During his address, Ambassador Soreca expressed his appreciation to all the doctors and nurses of the four COVID-19 structures in Tirana, Durres, Shkodra and Elbasan, as well as to the epidemiologists, biologists and researchers of the Institute of Public Health for their hard work in this fight against the pandemic outbreak:

“I am proud that the EU can be at your side. These are very difficult times in all countries of the world, and certainly in the EU. Even in these difficult times, the EU and its Member States have kept their commitment and support to Albania, and this delivery is the concrete example of this strong bond.  While this one contract ends today, the EU continues to be at the side of Albania with other crucial interventions against the pandemic, including on vaccines.”

Since its launch in April 2020, the €4.2 million EU4Health programme, implemented by the United Nations Office for Projects and Services (UNOPS), has ensured the procurement of specialised medical equipment and devices for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 for Albanian hospitals.