2026 Health Budget Draft: Reimbursement of medications for an average of 400 thousand patients per year!
In the 2026 draft budget, the Ministry of Health receives the largest budget with 820 million euros, an increase of 20 million euros from last year.
The financing of health services, both in primary and hospital care, is covered by the 2026 draft budget, which also foresees an increase in the cost-effectiveness of the list of reimbursable medicines and equipment.
The draft budgets also outline the targeted results for the medium-term period 2026–2028, such as universal coverage of the population with healthcare services, predicting an average of 7.7 million visits during the period 2026–2028, compared to 7.6 million visits in 2025.
Provision of basic check-up services for 379 thousand patients in 2026, calculated in accordance with the contract period.
Prescription treatment reimbursement for an average of 400 thousand patients per year, based on morbidity indicators and benefit policies from the list of reimbursable drugs.
Supporting the policy of reimbursement of diabetes fees, with the aim of increasing the number of beneficiaries to 59,000 in 2028, from 57,500 in 2025.
The number of patients treated will range between 322–330 thousand patients for the period 2026–2028. The increase in patients benefiting from cardiac surgery and cardiology packages, from 11,930 in 2026 to 12,281 in 2028.
· Dialysis service: for 2028, approximately 1,435 beneficiary patients are expected, with each performing an average of 13 sessions per month. The number of sessions is expected to increase from 217,000 in 2026 to 223,000 in 2028.
· Down Syndrome tests: an average of 1,250 patients per year, with an average fund of 6.05 million lek for the period 2026–2028.
· Financing fertility packages for couples in need of treatment, with an average fund of 37.5 million lek during the period 2026–2028, anticipating around 200 beneficiaries each year.
· Free financing, for the first time, of breast reconstruction surgery for women suffering from breast cancer. It is expected to benefit around 350 women per year, with an average annual cost of 70 million lek for the period 2026–2028.
· Financing for the first time corneal transplantation, for 50 cases each year during 2026–2028, with an annual fund of 25 million lek, aiming to improve patients' vision and quality of life.
· Breast cancer screening: an average of 5,000 women per year during the period 2026–2028. The aim is to increase the screening rate from 38% in 2025 to 44% in 2028.
· Screening for cervical cancer: an average of 12,500 women per year, with an average fund of 28 million lek for the period 2026–2028, with the aim of reducing mortality from this disease.
· Seasonal flu vaccination: around 300,000 people each year, with an annual fund of 171 million lek.
· Increasing the number of emergency medical calls, from 400 thousand in 2025 to 450 thousand in 2028, aiming for a response time of 13 minutes in 2028, from 16 minutes in 2025.
Meanwhile, the projected public investments in the health and social protection sector (2026–2028) are:
Reconstruction of Maternity Hospital No. 1, Tirana (Phase II) – total value 274 million lekë
2026: 118.420 million lek
2027: 19,700 million lek
Reconstruction of the central building of Gjirokastër Hospital – 419.477 million lekë
2025: 138.218 million lek
2026: 125.843 million lek
2027: 21.176 million lek
Construction of new buildings for the Elbasan Psychiatric Hospital – 433.211 million lekë
2025: 86.724 million lek
2026: 129.963 million lek
2027: 216.523 million lek
Reconstruction of Pogradec Hospital – 350.451 million lekë
2025: 70,090 million lek
2026: 105.135 million lek
2027: 175.226 million lek
Reconstruction of Lushnja Hospital – 314.248 million lekë
2025: 80.980 million lek
2026: 94.275 million lek
2027: 138.994 million lek
Reconstruction of the Maternity Ward of Shkodra Hospital – 403.240 million lek
2025: 80.648 million lek
2026: 120.972 million lek
2027: 201.620 million lek
Reconstruction of the Maternity Ward of Fier Hospital – 177.796 million lekë
2025: 45,000 million lek
2026: 53.339 million lek
2027: 79.457 million lek
Rehabilitation of health center and ambulance facilities, for the period 2025–2028, with a total fund of 613 million lek.
Reconstruction of the central building of the IHP, Tirana – 344.144 million lekë
2027: 57.221 million lek
2028: 56.817 million lek
After 2028: 172.072 million lek
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