In recent days, Albanian media outlets have circulated news and speculation about the arrival of Hantavirus in our country. This alarm returned to global attention after the WHO reported several severe cases and deaths aboard an international cruise vessel. But is this really a new and unknown threat to Albania? In fact, no. Experts, including the head of Epidemiology at the ISHP, Silva Bino, have pointed out that this virus has been a known reality for the Albanian scientifi

Seasonal allergies have been increasing in recent years and are affecting a growing number of citizens. “A significant percentage of patients who present to hospitals and outpatient clinics have symptoms of upper respiratory tract allergies, such as sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, and nasal congestion,” said Marsela Dervishi, an allergist at the hospital in Vlorë. Around 30% of outpatient visits are related to seasonal allergies, showing a noticeable increase compared to pr

Public health expert Erion Dasho has raised concerns that hantaviruses are present in Albania. According to Dasho, hantaviruses represent a large family of viruses with different clinical effects in humans. He explains that the strain known as the “Andes hantavirus” has mainly circulated in South America and is characterized by initial transmission from rodents to humans, but in certain cases it can also be transmitted from human to human. “This is not something new; it has b

Authorities in Spain are investigating three cases linked to an outbreak of Hantavirus that began on the luxury tourist ship “MV Hondius”, while the World Health Organization continues to assess the public risk as low. The latest case in Spain involves a 32-year-old woman from the province of Alicante, who has shown mild respiratory symptoms and is being tested for hantavirus. According to authorities, test results are expected within 24 to 48 hours. Spanish Secretary of Stat

The latest report on reimbursed drug consumption for March 2026 has revealed a concerning picture of health conditions in Albania. Data from the Health Insurance Fund show that non-communicable chronic diseases are increasingly dominating the lives of Albanians, with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and digestive system problems leading the list of the most widespread diagnoses. According to the report, medications for heart disease and blood pressure remain the most widely

The Council of Ministers has approved the list of medicines that are reimbursed by the Compulsory Health Care Insurance Fund (FSDKSH) and the coverage rate for their prices. According to the decision, List I of reimbursable medicines, which are sold in hospital pharmacies, and List II of medicines reimbursed by the Compulsory Health Care Insurance Fund, have been approved. The coverage rate for the prices of reimbursable medicines, classified according to ATC groups, has also

It refers to one of the most powerful images of modern medicine the photograph taken by James Stanfield, which depicts the Polish surgeon Zbigniew Religa after a marathon operation. What makes this photo so iconic is not only its medical context, but the human weight it carries. Religa, sitting exhausted beyond physical limits, is monitoring the patient after a heart transplant that lasted around 23 hours. In the background, an assistant lies collapsed on the floor from exhau

The healthcare situation in Albania shows a serious shortage of specialist doctors in several regions of the country. In the region of Dibër, which includes the municipalities of Peshkopi, Bulqizë, and Mat, the number of doctors is extremely limited: only 28 doctors in total, of which 17 are general practitioners and only 11 are specialists. Similarly, the regions of Kukës, Lezhë, Berat, and Korçë are also not fully covered with specialist doctors. Even in cases where special

BY / Osman Stafa: The hospital of Korça still hasn’t settled accounts with the last century This is a device used to produce X-ray images using film and chemical solutions. It is a technology that is no longer used in most countries. It has long been replaced by digital radiology, which is more accurate, faster, and free from primitive errors. But this device is still in use at the hospital of Korça. And with it, thousands of citizens who need an accurate diagnosis are served

The peak of seasonal allergies has not yet been reached, and medical professionals are raising concerns about patients self-medicating. According to doctors, taking medication without a prescription not only fails to properly treat allergies, but can often mask the diagnosis and worsen the patient’s condition. “A portion of seasonal allergy sufferers self-medicate because symptoms appear when they are outside the home due to pollen, and they go to pharmacies to get treatment.

Medications used to relieve anxiety symptoms or severe emotional states are being misused by citizens. Psychiatrist Irena Thoma, during an interview on the program “Health O’clock,” stated that they are often taken without a doctor’s recommendation, influenced instead by advice from friends or family members. “Since these are medications that provide very quick relief, they feel pleasant. I think this is the trap of these drugs they create the impression that they are the onl

Scientists have identified a new genetic disease that causes premature aging in teenagers, raising concerns about its impact on physical development and brain function. The study was conducted by the Sanford Burnham Prebys Institute in collaboration with an international team and was published in the scientific journal *Nature Communications*. According to the research, affected patients show symptoms similar to progeria, such as early greying and signs of accelerated aging,

A pill every day for decades or two injections a year… is this the new breakthrough of science for people suffering from hypertension, writes salute.eu. It’s not science fiction. It’s zilebesiran, and the results of the KARDIA-2 study published in JAMA on July 1, 2025 have just changed what we thought we knew about hypertension. Hypertension affects 1 in 3 adults worldwide. The problem is not diagnosis. The problem is that almost no one manages to take medication every day fo

Even the healthiest people usually carry viruses in their bodies, which may or may not cause symptoms. In many cases, these viruses remain latent, avoiding detection and therefore not being completely eliminated. A new study sheds more light on these hidden viruses, their prevalence, and how genetics and other factors influence the body’s ability to control them, reports Science Alert. A research team led by scientists from Harvard Medical School analyzed data from blood and

1 in 2,000 people in Albania is affected by a rare genetic disease, and in our country diagnosing them is very difficult; as a result, some of these patients do not receive any treatment. The most widespread is cystic fibrosis, which affects the lungs and digestive system, but blood disorders such as hemophilia, thalassemia, and muscular atrophy are no less common. An estimated 150,000 individuals are affected by rare genetic diseases, many of whom are unaware that they have

Although they fight for their lives every day, six medications have been missing at the Oncology Hospital in QSUT. These include drugs used to treat breast cancer patients as well as other forms of this serious disease. In a live report for News24, journalist Osman Stafa, reporting from outside the Oncology Hospital, stated that one of these medications has been missing for about two months, while others have been unavailable for around a month. “For several weeks, the Oncolo

The Council of Ministers has approved a package of changes to the salary scheme and financial treatment for employees of the healthcare system, modifying the base salary, seniority bonuses, emergency and critical service allowances, as well as compensation for working away from one’s place of residence. One of the main changes concerns the reformulation of the seniority bonus, which will now be calculated based on the position salary and will increase progressively according

Albania ranks among the countries with the highest burden of out-of-pocket health spending, also reflecting a lack of stability in the financial protection the state provides to families for basic services, according to the results of the “SecuriMeter 2025” survey by the Regional Cooperation Council. According to the survey’s official figures, about 57% of Albanian households say they spend between 1% and 10% of their total income on medical visits and medicines. This group r

During the season of viral infections and flu, many parents face rising temperatures in young children. According to pediatrician Zerina Sheme, fever is a protective response of the body to infections and should not immediately be seen as alarming. However, it must be monitored carefully. In an interview on the program “Dita jonë” on A2 CNN, she explained that compresses, airing the room, and light clothing help reduce temperature, while showers are not recommended. “Compress

Former LSI minister Edmond Panariti has stated that the viral infection circulating in the country in recent days is the most dangerous flu of this century. Panariti says that this flu is a super-aggressive mutation of the H3N2 influenza virus. According to him, this ultra-aggressive virus affects most severely the elderly, children, pregnant women, those with chronic illnesses, and anyone undergoing chemotherapy or radiation. Alarming statement from Edmond Panariti: “This is