Silent alarm in Albania / Heart disease, diabetes and stomach problems ‘dominate’ the reimbursement drug list

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 used and reimbursed in the country. Only during March, tens of thousands of packages were distributed for patients suffering from hypertension and heart rhythm disorders. Drugs such as Amlodipine and Lercanidipine, widely used to control blood pressure, recorded massive consumption, with some brands exceeding 10,000 packages each. This shows that cardiovascular problems no longer affect only the elderly, but are widely spread across the population. Preventive aspirin use also remains very high.

After heart disease, diabetes ranks as one of the biggest health problems in the country. Metformin, the basic medication for type 2 diabetes treatment, is among the most widely used drugs. Only its most known variants, such as Siofor and Glucophage, were reimbursed in more than 20,000 packages during March. Insulin usage also remains high, with Novorapid, Lantus, and Tresiba indicating a significant number of patients who rely daily on injectable therapy.

Another notable issue in the report is the high prevalence of stomach and digestive system diseases. Medications for gastritis, ulcers, and stomach protection such as Omeprazole and its variants exceeded 18,000 reimbursed packages. Doctors link this situation to lifestyle, stress, unhealthy eating habits, and uncontrolled use of medications.

The report also highlights a significant increase in vision problems and neurological diseases. Glaucoma medications such as Travatan and Xalatan are among the most used for elderly patients, while drugs like Levetiracetam for epilepsy and Donepezil for Alzheimer’s show the growing need for treatment of degenerative and neurological conditions.

Public health experts assess that this high volume of reimbursed drugs is a clear indicator that Albania is facing an increasingly heavy burden of chronic diseases. A large portion of the state budget is now being directed toward managing these conditions, which are dominating the country’s health profile in 2026.

"KORÇA BOOM"