EU delivers CT scanner for COVID-19 diagnostics to Mother Teresa University Hospital
Tirana, 10 March 2020 - The EU emergency support for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 in Albania – the EU4Health Programme (EUR 4.2 million) - completed successfully today with the handing over of the CT (computed tomography) scanner to Mother Teresa University Hospital.
In the presence of the EU Ambassador, Luigi Soreca, and the Minister of Health and Social Protection, Ogerta Manastirliu, this advanced equipment was delivered at the Radiology Department of Mother Teresa University Hospital together with highly sophisticated accessories for detecting cardiac insufficiencies.
During his address, EU Ambassador to Albania Luigi 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.”
The CT scanner is crucial in both the prevention and the fight against COVID 19. It will enable to investigate conditions of COVID 19 hospitalised patients and support laboratory diagnostics and testing.
EU4Health
Since its launch in April 2020, the EU4Health Programme, implemented by the United Nations Office for Projects and Services (UNOPS) on behalf of the EU, ensured the procurement of specialised medical equipment and devices for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 in Albania. These have included 5 fully equipped medical auto ambulances, 100 beds for intensive care units (ICUs), 30 fixed and 50 portable ventilators, 30 portable electrocardiograms, 20 fixed electrocardiograms, 10 fixed and 10 portable echographers with trolley, and 2 digital mobile x-rays. Furthermore, in order to reduce the baseline of infection and ensure containment, 38,000 rapid antigen tests were provided to the Albanian health authorities at the beginning of 2021, on top of almost 40,000 PCR tests delivered in the second half of 2020. The installation of the CT scanner follows an EU-funded upgrade of the CT room facilities to ensure that all requirements are in place for the safe operation of the equipment and for the radiological protection of both patients and medical staff.
The EU will further invest in the prevention and fight against COVID 19, including by supporting vaccine deployment in the country, but also by strengthening the Albanian healthcare system resilience to internal and external shocks and making it more effective, efficient and inclusive.
For more information regarding the implementation of the EU support to the health sector in Albania please visit: https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/albania/area/press_en