For the first time in Albania, the American Hospital performs the kidney transplant. The team of doctors was composed of doctors from Turkey, USA, Austria and Albania. The first two transplants, performed in this hospital, were free of charge for the patients, although they are classified as operations with a very high cost. They were supported financially by the Albanian government, together with the Ministry of Defense and Health. The staff of professors in the operation was led by Prof. Dr. Ersoz Sadik, head of the Department of nephrology at the University of Ankara, and the chief of the Transplant Center at UA.

After the successful progress of the first two patients transplanted, the American Hospital undertook other 80 renal transplants with living donors, already based on the agreement with the Ministry of Health, under which the American Hospital undertakes the kidney transplant program, thus satisfying the need for patients to be transplanted in clinics abroad.

Patients underwent contemporary protocols defined by the collaboration of the entire team. The procedure conducted with the support of the Albanian Government continues to be monitored by the team and the American Hospital laboratory and it has all the attention of senior leaders of the American Hospital.

The key points enabling the American Hospital realize the transplant not performed before in Albania.

• A unique laboratory that makes the compliance of the organs and the post-operation tracking of the patients.
• A specialized team of surgeons with a lot of experience.
• A team specialized for post-operation tracking of the patients, which is one of the most delicate of the entire program to avoid throwing of the organs by the patient.
• Facilities and equipment necessary to perform the intervention (two rooms available for the intervention in the donor and recipient at the same time)