In 2023, Albania imported 26.8 billion lek (255.7 million euro) of pharmaceutical products, but only about 12 billion lek or 44% were covered by the reimbursement fund made available by the Albanian government.

In 2023, the import of pharmaceutical products followed a downward trend after the unusual growth during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Albanians bear a heavy financial burden for health services, even though in our country they are provided free of charge. There is a low range of pharmaceutical products on the reimbursement lists, and citizens often use their own funds to purchase medications.

International data show that our country still has a low per capita consumption of pharmaceutical products, but at the same time faces high out-of-pocket expenses compared to the Region and other European countries.

From 2013 to 2022, imports of pharmaceutical products in value increased by 11.3 billion ALL, while funds for reimbursement of medications increased by 3 billion ALL, according to official data. This trend shows that out-of-pocket expenses for the purchase of pharmaceutical products have increased in recent years.

The value of imports of pharmaceutical products has been increasing rapidly from year to year, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, which has increased the burden of diseases in the population.

In 2022, imports of pharmaceutical products reached 28 billion ALL, about 270 million euros, while the state reimbursement fund was 11.4 billion ALL.

The data show that Albanian patients financed 61% of the value of imported pharmaceutical products out of pocket in 2022 and 55% in 2023 due to the decrease in imports.

Low reimbursement funds have led the consumption of drugs to cheap alternatives that come mainly from Turkey, while the representative offices of multinational companies have withdrawn from Albania. From 13 such that were a few years ago, now there are only 3.

More detailed data show that Albanians have low access to the main drugs that treat cardiovascular diseases, oncology, autoimmune, nervous, etc.

Data from the Albanian Association of Pharmaceutical Representatives show that new drugs that have a high sales trend in the European and regional markets have not yet entered the Albanian market.

They cost a lot and are not affordable for patients, as the state does not reimburse them. For example, in Albania, such as Apixaban, Pembrolizumab, which treat autoimmune diseases, are not present.

The Albanian market is under development, where traditional generic and off-patent drugs represent 76%, while specialized hospital treatment and innovative therapy only 24%.

Low budget funding causes low reimbursement for medications that treat diseases such as cancer and autoimmune diseases.

(Source: Monitor)