Tirana - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
You will need to be medevaced if anything bad happens but we are close to the rest of Europe. - Aug 2016
Medical care is substandard. The Embassy has two medical officers. We medevac for anything serious. - Aug 2015
The medical care in Albania is in general very poor, but the Embassy's health unit is very good and is currently staffed by a FSHP and a NP who is an EFM. For mid-pregnancy OB ultrasounds you are sent to Hygeia, a relatively new Greek hospital, and there is at least one good doctor who does these screenings. There is a good dentist here, and the cost is much lower. I have heard mixed reviews about a new dermatologist. - Aug 2014
There are a couple of hospitals that can handle minor and moderate health issues. The Hygeia Hospital outside town is supposed to be very nice. People who have gone there have said the inside looks very modern and nice, just like in the U.S. The American hospital in town is Turkish-run, but has modern equipment for standard issues. Anything serious gets medevac'd to London. Unless you have ongoing serious health issues, I wouldn't let health care necessarily deter you from coming. - May 2013
This is probabaly why this post is still considered a "Hardship" post. There is the Health Unit at the embassy, which is great for the average cold and random doctor visit. Anything else that is considered major would probably require you to be medivac'd to London. Just don't get seriously sick or injured here and you should be fine. - Dec 2012
Medical care here is poor and anything major requires a trip outside the country. The embassy health unit is fairly good but small. There are a couple American missionary doctors here that are often used by Americans. The air quality in Tirana is not great. People also frequently get sick from the food and/or water, especially in the summer. - Oct 2011
Anything major and you will need to be med-evaced. The Embassy has a nurse practitioner and there is an American missionary doctor available. There are no trauma units here. - Mar 2008
