Psychiatric hospitals in Albania are in a neglected state, with dilapidated facilities, dampness and a lack of basic infrastructure, according to a report by the Supreme Audit Institution (KLSH). The most serious deficiencies are observed in hospitals in Tirana and Elbasan.
According to the report, the Psychiatric Hospital of the University Hospital Center "Mother Teresa" in Tirana is in urgent need of renovation. The images reveal the unacceptable conditions in which patients with mental disorders are hospitalized for years.
In Elbasan, the situation is even more difficult, as the wards are overcrowded, with limited space that does not ensure privacy or peace for patients. This, according to the KLSH, increases the aggressiveness of the hospitalized and makes their treatment difficult, as patients with different diagnoses coexist in the same space.
The Vlora Psychiatric Hospital is undergoing renovation, but the building temporarily used for male patients is also in poor condition. According to the hospital administration, work on the new facility is expected to be completed by December 2023.
In Shkodra, conditions are slightly better, but significant shortages in both infrastructure and staff remain. In the Elbasan hospital, only 4 psychiatrists serve 310 patients, which demonstrates the need for human resources reinforcement.
In 2023, 3,161 patients were hospitalized in the country's Four psychiatric hospitals, a number that highlights the urgent need to improve conditions and services provided.
