Exchange of Notes for Grant Aid for the Republic of Albania (The Project for the Improvement of the Medical Equipment of the Regional Level Emergency Centers)

December 17, 2009
Japanese

The Government of Japan has decided to extend grant aid (The Project for the Improvement of the Medical Equipment of the Regional Level Emergency Centers) totaling a maximum of 718 million JPY to the Republic of Albania. Notes to this effect were exchanged on December 17 (Thu) (local time: same day) in Tirana between Mr. Hiroyasu Ando, Japanese Ambassador to Albania, and Mr. Ilir Meta, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania.
The economic and social development level in Albania is relatively low among southeastern European countries, especially in the field of health care. In particular, emergency medical services need to be improved urgently, as the deaths caused by circulatory diseases and traffic accidents, which seem to be due to the defects in emergency treatments, are one of the highest-ranking causes of death in this country.
This project is to provide ambulances and emergency surgical equipment to fourteen medical facilities that serve as centers for Albania’s emergency medical system (two tertiary medical care facilities in urban areas, and twelve secondary medical care facilities in each district) and to support the establishment of a system for the maintenance of those medical equipment.
Through this cooperation, it is expected that the number of requests for ambulances and emergency surgical operations in those medical facilities will increase, leading to an increase of the number of lives saved through emergency medical care. It is also expected that early diagnosis and treatment will result in shorter periods of hospitalization and medical treatment, and which will lead to ease financial burden on patients.

(Reference) The Republic of Albania covers a land area of 29,000 square kilometers, has a population of approximately 3.13 million people (World Bank, 2007), and a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of 3,290 USD (World Bank, 2007).

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