The World Bank has announced that it has approved a 15 million euro loan for Albania to help the country with the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the document is stated that the number of patients seeking medical care due to COVID-19, at some point, may exceed the current capacity of the Albanian health care system.

In response to the request of the Albanian government, the program will provide immediate support to help Albania limit the local broadcast of COVID-19. In addition, it will ensure mass screening of the population (providing equipment to strengthen the detection of infections and monitor contacts), investments in health equipment, protective equipment for medical personnel and an increase in the number of beds for intensive care units .

If on the one hand the investment of the World Bank focuses on the immediate and strengthening of the emergency response of the Albanian health sector against COVID-19, on the other, in the medium to long term, it will support the improvement of the national public health system.

"The World Bank is at the side of the Albanian people in this unprecedented crisis. I would like to praise the extraordinary commitment of health workers in Albania to save people's lives, and strongly encourage citizens to implement social distancing and other restrictive measures aimed at minimizing the impact of the pandemic.

Given the uncertainty of the pandemic, the program is designed to be flexible and meet the needs that will arise, while knowledge about the COVID-19 virus will evolve," said Maryam Salim, manager of the World Bank office for Albania.

The 15 million euro project of the World Bank for Albania is part of the total package that this institution is giving under COVID-19 worldwide through a program with a total funding of 6 billion dollars.