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"Diploma, after serving the country", Free Europe: How Albania is aiming to curb the flight of doctors

2022-10-24 13:25:04Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

"Diploma, after serving the country", Free Europe: How Albania is

Justina Sinani, a 5th year general medicine student at the University of Medicine in Tirana, expects to graduate next year, but says that she started her studies with the idea of ​​leaving Albania.

She is still undecided about the specialization she will pursue, due to, as she says, the uncertainty about what is offered after this qualification.

"This will be the moment when I will decide to stay here in my country or to leave. Most of my friends have started foreign language courses, with the intention of escaping", says Justina for Radio Free Europe. For years, studying medicine or nursing has been seen by young people as an opportunity to turn their degree into a "passport" to leave Albania.

In the last decade, according to the Federation of Albanian Doctors in Europe, more than 3,000 doctors have left Albania - 1,500 of them to Germany.

They mainly complain about bad conditions in hospitals, lack of medicines and low wages.

The average gross salary of a doctor in Albania reaches 110,000 ALL, or 950 euros. For comparison, the untaxed salary of a doctor in Germany reaches up to 4,000 euros.

The health authorities declare that Albania, for now, does not suffer for doctors and health personnel, but that this does not happen, the Prime Minister of this country, Edi Rama, said on October 18 that measures must be taken.

Rama: Diploma after serving the country
"We will not give you a doctor's degree as soon as you finish school. You will go once to return to your people what [they] have done for you, then you will also receive your diploma and go wherever you want, according to certain deadlines", said Rama.

He later clarified that the degree will be blocked for three years. It is not clear when this measure will be implemented.

Rama said that doctors in many countries do not receive their diplomas immediately, but he did not specify which ones he was talking about.

"The Albanian people cannot pay for German doctors", he said.

In Albania, specialization in medicine is self-financed. Payment by the state is made only for a number of specialists, which is determined by the Ministry of Health for the needs of the health system. Even for general studies in medicine, students pay for themselves.

Rama said that he will ask the European Union to return the investment to Albania.

"They want to take [the doctors] to Germany, take them, but they have to return the investment. I mean that the European Union must find a way to return something... If we have opportunities for ourselves and for Europe, there is no problem. But, we cannot be in this passive position, this is madness", said Rama, without explaining what he will specifically ask from the EU countries.

Sinani: How can getting the diploma be stopped?
For medical student, Justina Sinani, this initiative of his is not right.

"I do not agree at all. How can the diploma be stopped? I even think that if it is implemented, it will have a negative impact. Medicine requires several years of study, there are many expenses and in the end we are not awarded a diploma? I am for it to be decided with free will, to improve the conditions, the payments, but in no way should we be forced to stay by holding our diploma hostage", says Sinani.

Arjon Kuçuku, another medical student in Tirana, describes this initiative as a "flagrant violation" of human rights and the University's regulations.

"Personally, I have decided to stay in Albania, but this is my will. Not giving the diploma is not a solution. The best solution: improving the conditions in hospitals and increasing the salary, but a serious increase, not a funny one", says Kuçuku, a 3rd year medical student.

Even for the doctor Ilir Allkja, who works in the emergency department of a private hospital in Tirana, not awarding diplomas to medical students would be a flagrant violation of the universal right to graduation.

"As far as I know, this does not happen anywhere," says Allkja for Radio Free Europe.

He adds that doctors should feel free to work in Albania.

"They should rely on their career, which should be as far away from politics as possible", says Allkja.

Allkja, according to media reports in Albania, was fired from her job at the Emergency Department of the "Mother Teresa" Hospital Center in Tirana two years ago, after she denounced the deficiencies in the health system in Albania, including the lack of masks, gloves, oxygen equipment, etc.

Dollenberg: Professionals must decide themselves
The Albanian doctor in Germany, Aurora Meta Dollenberg, president of the Federation of Albanian Doctors in Europe, says that, at first glance, it seems unfair that Europe receives a ready-made product, while Albania is impoverished every day. more of the younger generations, able to work in the health sector.

She appreciates the fact that the Albanian Government, according to her, is worrying about changing this phenomenon, but, on the other hand, says that strategies should be discussed very carefully.

"In Germany, the salaries are several times higher, the conditions are better, qualifications are offered without bureaucracy. So the Albanian state must invest in keeping young doctors in the country, competing with these states that are absorbing doctors and nurses. But the decision is up to the professionals to stay or go. No one can force them to stay and no one can prevent them from obtaining a diploma, which is provided by law," says Dollenberg.

She adds that with investments and concrete measures to improve conditions and increase salaries, young doctors can be kept in Albania.

This is the scenario that, according to her, "gives success". Civil society activist in Albania, Adriatik Lapaj, also a lawyer, sees Rama's proposal as hasty.

According to him, this will encourage young people in Albania to try to complete their medical studies abroad.

"You can't tell the students: we don't give you the diploma card".

"What has the state and the Government given to those who were graying in school?", asks Lapaj.

Kosovo is also facing an exodus of doctors for similar reasons.

According to the data of the Chamber of Doctors of Kosovo, 580 doctors left Kosovo in the period 2018-2021./REL


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