Ministry of Health and Social Protection Albania

What Ministry of Health and Social Protection Albania does

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Albania is the central government institution responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing national health policy and the country's social welfare system. It serves the entire resident population of Albania through the administration of public healthcare services, social protection schemes, and emergency response infrastructure, including operation of the National Emergency line (127). The Ministry is headquartered in Tirana and operates a national footprint that includes 36 Summer Health Centers serving coastal and tourist regions, plus a fleet expansion of 13 new ambulances integrated into emergency response.

The Ministry's functional remit spans public hospital oversight, primary care governance, health insurance administration, pharmaceutical regulation, and social assistance for vulnerable populations, including the formal recognition of approximately 14,000 personal assistants for persons with disabilities. Service delivery is conducted through both traditional administrative channels and the e-Albania digital platform, which exposes more than 40 online health and social services to citizens and represents the principal technology-led interface between the Ministry and the public. Strategic direction is articulated through two concurrent multi-year frameworks — Health 2025-2030 and Social Welfare 2025-2030 — providing a six-year planning horizon for capital and policy deployment.

Funding derives from the Albanian state budget and is supplemented by a diversified group of international development partners, including the World Bank, USAID, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB). The Ministry is led by Minister Prof. Evis Sala (appointed September 2025) and Secretary General Lavdrim Sahitaj (appointed September 2024), supported by four Vice Ministers — Denada Seferi, Eugena Tomini, Ina Majko, and Oltjon Muzaka. Central headquarters staff number approximately 74, with the broader workforce distributed across subordinate public health institutions.

Name

Ministry of Health and Social Protection Albania

Legal name

Ministry of Health and Social Protection Albania (Ministria e Shëndetësisë dhe Mbrojtjes Sociale)

Website

https://shendetesia.gov.al

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Albania is the central government authority responsible for national healthcare policy, public health services, and social welfare programs, serving all citizens through hospitals, emergency services, and digital platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health Administration

NAICS

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921), Individual and Family Services (6241), Social Assistance (624), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Hospitals (8060)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Health Policy, Planning & Governance (BPAIAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Healthcare-Linked Social Benefits Administration (e.g., Medicaid/Means-Tested Health Coverage) (BPAIAKAH), Health Equity, Access & Social Determinants Programs (BPAIAJAO), Hospitals, Clinics & Charitable Healthcare Providers (BPAGACAB), Health Access & Social Care Innovations (Community Health, Telehealth for Underserved) (BPAGALAG), Health Policy & Legislation Authorities (HLAJACAA)

Keywords

• Public health administration
• Social protection services
• Government healthcare policy
• Universal healthcare services
• Social welfare programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Tirana

HQ country

Albania

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Budget Allocation: Core funding from Albanian state budget allocated through annual government appropriations for health and social protection services.
2. International Development Partner Funding: Project-based funding from international donors including World Bank, USAID, Swiss SDC, EU programs for health system modernization and social protection reforms.

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection Albania is the central government authority that formulates and implements national healthcare policy and social protection programs for all Albanian citizens. It delivers universal healthcare access, emergency medical services, vaccination programs, social welfare assistance, disability support, and economic aid through a national network of hospitals, health centers, and social welfare offices, complemented by over 40 digital services accessible via the e-Albania government portal.

Product overview

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection Albania operates a digital government services platform integrated through the e-Albania portal. The core offering consists of citizen-facing online services covering health services (vaccination records, health cards, electronic prescriptions, family doctor registration, specialist referrals) and social welfare services (economic assistance, disability certifications). Supporting services include pharmaceutical import authorization, medical device registration, blood donation scheduling, and COVID-19 related certificates. The services are accessible through the e-Albania government services portal rather than as standalone products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online Services Portal (e-Albania) A government citizen services portal providing digital access to health and social welfare services including vaccination records, health cards, economic assistance applications, and pharmaceutical/medical device authorizations for Albanian citizens.
• My Vaccines Digital vaccination record tracking for citizens to view their vaccination history and status.
• Health Card Services Digital health card issuance, renewal, and management for citizens, including child health card generation.
• Electronic Prescription (Receta ime elektronike) Digital prescription management system allowing citizens to access their electronic prescriptions issued by healthcare providers.
• Economic Assistance Services Online application and management system for economic assistance benefits for individuals in need.
• Medical Device Registration Digital platform for registration, amendment, and cancellation of medical devices, including self-declaration of imports.
• Pharmaceutical Import Authorization Online authorization system for importing medicines, active substances, narcotics, psychotropic substances, and donated medicines.
• Family Doctor Services Registration with family doctors, referral management, and specialist consultation scheduling through digital channels.
• COVID-19 Services COVID-19 vaccination requests, vaccination certificates, testing certificates, and reimbursable COVID-19 prescriptions.
• Blood Donation Services Voluntary blood type declaration and blood donation appointment scheduling for individuals and entities.
• National Emergency Medical Service (127) National emergency medical response service accessible via telephone number 127, providing ambulance dispatch and emergency care coordination across Albania.
• Summer Health Centers 36 seasonal health centers providing healthcare services to tourists during the summer tourism season in Albania.
• Disability Support Program National program providing disability certification, economic assistance, and personal assistant recognition for persons with disabilities.
• Economic Assistance Program National economic assistance program providing cash support and welfare benefits for vulnerable individuals and families in Albania.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced waiting times for CT, MRI, and coronary angiography through recent healthcare reforms
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered moderate, major and minor.

• Central European Initiative (CEI) / Lepida ScpAmoderateTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2020WebinHealth project - CEI initiative between Emilia-Romagna Region (Italy), represented by Lepida, and Albania represented by Ministry and University of Medicine Tirana. Aims to accelerate digital innovation in Albania's health system through interactive webinars from October 2020 to January 2021.
• IPA Adriatic / BESSY ProjectmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-border cooperation project addressing shortage and safety of donated blood. Establishing sustainable network of policy makers, NGOs, and healthcare institutions involved in blood donation across the Adriatic region.
• Interreg-IPA CBC Italy-Albania-MontenegromoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean cross-border cooperation program supporting health sector collaboration between Italy, Albania, and Montenegro through joint initiatives and project implementation.
• Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLead implementer of Health for All Project (HAP) focusing on strengthening primary healthcare management, infrastructure improvement, social inclusion, transparency and accountability, and continuing medical education in Dibër and Fier counties.
• University of Medicine, Tirana (UMT)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for healthcare professional training and CEI WebinHealth project collaboration on digital health innovation and continuing medical education.
• Institute of Public Health AlbaniamoderateImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNational partner for Health for All Project implementation, collaborating on primary healthcare improvement and health promotion activities in target counties.
• Health Insurance Fund (Fondi i Sigurimeve Shëndetësore)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational health financing institution partnering on HAP project implementation in Dibër and Fier counties.
• Municipalities of Fier, Mallakastër, Lushnjë, Roskovec, Patos, Burrel, Bulqizë, Peshkopi, KlosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partners in Health for All Project implementation, collaborating on primary healthcare improvement and community health promotion activities.
• Civil Society Organizations and NGOsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organizations for health promotion and social inclusion activities under HAP project, helping ensure service beneficiaries are better informed about health issues.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Ministry of Health, Montenegro: Montenegro's health ministry shares cross-border cooperation programs with Albania through Interreg-IPA CBC Italy-Albania-Montenegro. Similar healthcare system structure, EU accession trajectory, and donor dependency profile.
• Ministry of Health, North Macedonia: North Macedonia's health ministry is a near-perfect peer: same Western Balkan region, similar post-communist healthcare system transition, similar EU accession-stage reforms, and shared donor ecosystem (World Bank, EU, USAID). Comparable scale and policy challenges.
• Ministry of Health, Kosovo: Kosovo's health ministry is a regional peer in the Western Balkans with shared healthcare system legacy, demographic challenges, and donor-funded reform programs. Operates with similar scope of public health and social welfare functions.

Others

• World Health Organization (WHO): WHO is a key technical and funding partner for the Ministry, providing guidelines, pandemic response coordination, and capacity building. While not a direct competitor, it shapes the international framework within which the Ministry operates.

Broad incumbents

• Public Health Agency of Canada: Canada's national public health agency is a broad incumbent with similar mandate on public health emergency response, vaccination programs, and health promotion. Comparable digital health service delivery model.
• NHS England: While NHS England is a service-delivery entity rather than a ministry, it is the most globally recognized universal healthcare system and serves as a reference model that the Albanian Ministry benchmarks against for reform design.
• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India: India's national health and family welfare ministry shares the combined health-plus-social-protection structure with Albania. Both operate large-scale digital health initiatives (India's eSanjeevani vs. Albania's e-Albania) for universal healthcare delivery.
• Ministry of Health, Italy (Ministero della Salute): Italy's national health ministry is a direct functional peer, sharing public health policy, universal healthcare system governance, and social protection responsibilities. The two ministries already collaborate through CEI/WebinHealth and Interreg-IPA CBC programs.
• Federal Ministry of Health, Germany (Bundesministerium für Gesundheit): Germany's federal health ministry is a broad incumbent with similar mandate over public health policy, healthcare regulation, and social protection. Represents a mature benchmark of the model Albania is progressively adopting.
• Ministry of Health, Greece: Greece's national health ministry is a regional peer with shared Balkan-Mediterranean context. Both countries operate universal healthcare systems with social protection components and have cross-border cooperation linkages through EU programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ShendetesiaAL
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/shendetesia
• Facebookfacebook.com/1BcVi6Bdm2
• Instagraminstagram.com/ministria_e_shendetesise/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ministry-of-health-and-social-protection-albania

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ministry of Health and Social Protection Albania