A 24-page special business report on Albania was published in Germany’s Die Welt newspaper on June 4th, 2019, featuring a wide assortment of news, analysis and interviews with corporate and government leaders.
This special explores Albania’s untapped potential in sectors including tourism, energy and agriculture presents a unique opportunity in the European market.
Part of the publication was an interview of American Hospital CEO, Mr. Klodian Allajbeu, who talked about the potential of health tourism developed in Albania and the benefits that this industry may bring for the country in the upcoming years.

INTERVIEW
Klodian Allajbeu
CEO, American Hospital Albania

The American Hospital of Albania was established in December 2006 as the first private hospital in Albania. The hospital started its activity serving patients with cardiac problems inside and outside of Albania, and the percentage of patients leaving Albania to get treatment abroad declined by 85 percent in the first year alone. Since then, it has expanded its focuses and specialties and expanded its presence in both Albania and Kosovo. Its next major goal is health tourism. Already, several medical procedures including successful IVF treatments are attracting people from all around Europe, but over the next five years it intends to further focus on growing that sector

The American Hospital of Albania has grown significantly over the last 12 years. Could you walk us through its history and development?

American Hospital was established in 2006 out of the necessity to provide more services than were being offered in Albania at the time. The public Albanian health care system could not fulfill the needs of Albanian citizens and most of them were traveling to the nearest countries for possible solutions to their issues. At the time, we also had visa limitations, which even further narrowed the possible selection of hospitals. Most patients were traveling to Turkey, where no visa was needed, and mostly for heart issues, which is a very time-sensitive treatment. However, Albanian citizens faced big difficulties there, from the language to being foreign and not fully understanding procedures and manners, to the lack of post-operation follow up.

In the beginning, our focus was cardiology and cardiac-surgery to fulfill the existing gap and the immediate need for this medical service. We had international doctors combined with the best locals and technology available at the time. In less than a year after the inauguration, we had our first big success: our team performed a myocardial surgery and coronary angiogram for the first time in Albania’s history. Since then, we have performed more than 9,500 successful open heart surgeries. Albanians do not need to travel anymore.

We had another success story in our first year – the first kidney transplant ever done in Albania. Now, we have done more than 80 successful kidney transplants and have three dialysis centers with 381 occupancy spaces. If you think that 15 years ago, patients with renal insufficiency were predestined to die or at least live in another country, American Hospital in collaboration with the Albanian state institutions has made it possible for these patients to extend their longevity far beyond previous expectations.

In 2009 and 2010, we expanded within the country. Fier and Durres, two of the largest cities in Albania, were chosen for American Medical Diagnostic Centers. In 2011, we inaugurated our second hospital in Tirana, focused on gynecology and in vitro treatments. Our IVF department has the highest success rate in the region and now has patients from all over Europe. We have set records in the field, with the oldest Italian patient, who at 62-years-old managed to have a successful pregnancy and baby with the help of the Albanian IVF team. In 2012, we continued to expand – opening our hospital in Pristina, Kosovo because Albanians there were facing the same problems that Albania had been previously. In 2013, our team performed the first successful liver transplant in Albania on a 34-year-old patient. Then, in 2017, we inaugurated our third and biggest hospital in Tirana – American Hospital 3, a 25.000 m2 space with more than 100 private patient rooms, with five operating theaters and a very modern intensive care unit.

American Laboratory Network, ALNET, is part of our success story. As a hospital, we know the importance of a laboratory and the need to have accuate analysis. A proper diagnose is the first step to proper health solutions. With the widest range of medical lab exams, our laboratory network is the only one in Albania certified by ISO15189.

Another one of our points of pride is the Oculist Center, the only one in the country that can perform corneal transplants and treat eye cataract issues, damaged retina, glaucoma and more.

Today, thanks to very intensive work, American Hospital is the most powerful private health institution in the market and fulfills all the needs of Albanian citizens and others.

Today, thanks to very intensive work, American Hospital is the most powerful private health institution in the market and fulfills all the needs of Albanian citizens and others
As CEO of the American Hospital, describe your main challenges so far in this role and priorities for the upcoming year.

As a CEO and managing director, I have dealt with many challenges. To begin, we had to gain the trust of our patients and the trust of government institutions. We also had to build a strong and sustainable brand and revolutionize the health care system, which was all managed successfully thanks to the hard work of our people.

Our priorities for the upcoming years are to improve our services and become better. Concretely, we want to gain accreditation from the Joint Commission International (JCI) and become a reference point for healthcare systems in the region.

American Hospital was funded by the Southeast Europe Equity Fund II (SEEF II) and received investment from foreign investors including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. How was this investment mutually beneficial for both Albania and investors?

In Albania, our hospital was a pioneer of the private health care system and modernized the whole industry. We have more than 2,700 professional health care staff and we are now one of the biggest employers in the country. We have eased the lives of our citizens and brought into the country the best international expertise, from whom the local staff has been trained and learned. This investment has certainly proved to be beneficial for both our country and the fund.

In 2018, the American Hospital acquired Greece-based Hygeia Group’s Albanian centers for €1 million plus the liabilities of the hospital. What are your thoughts on the importance of that move?

In 2008, the opportunity to acquire Hygeia Hospital was presented to us. The Hygeia hospital was not performing well financially, and the shareholders wanted to leave. We had a success story of our own in terms of hospital management and felt we were well equipped to manage this big investment. So, together with the board we took the opportunity and used it in our favor. The Hygeia Hospital, now called the International Hospital, is part of the American Hospital Group. This move strengthens our position in the market.

Our vision and strategy for American Hospital for the next five years is to focus on health tourism
Travel and tourism is a $1.24-billion industry in Albania and is growing by 6 percent annually. It is expected to become a $2.1 billion industry by 2028. What are your thoughts on the potential for developing medical tourism as a niche segment?

Our vision and strategy for American Hospital for the next five years is to focus on health tourism and the opportunity that this industry offers. American Hospital has expanded during the last years and now, we can cover not only the needs of Albanian people living in our country but also offer services for the whole region. We have witnessed continuous growth of European customers choosing Albania and our hospitals for specific treatments like IVF, plastic surgery, dental care and other orthopedic surgeries.

Why might a German tourist visiting Albania who has a medical issue choose this hospital?

A German citizen should consider and chose American Hospital for his or her medical treatments because we offer the best service in the country of all the private health institutions. We have the best doctors who use the latest technology. American Hospital complies with international standards and nothing differentiates us from any other hospital in Europe. Any patient that was treated in American Hospital would choose this institution again. We have a high satisfaction rate both with our local patients and those who come from abroad.

In 2017, The Tirana Chamber of Commerce and Industry awarded the hospital with a prize for leading the country in terms of quality, technology and professionalism. What do you think is behind your success?

Behind our success story are our people. Our doctors, nurses, staff and everyone who is dedicated to perfection and offering the best possible service. Another key to our success was that the investment was made at the right time and with the right resources so that now we can provide local solutions with the latest technology. Behind our success is the commitment that we made 12 years ago to offer Albanian patients a correct and professional private health care system.

“Our health care services are up to international standards but with lower and more acceptable costs”

American Hospital is composed of both local and foreign experts. Are there opportunities to increase collaboration with German doctors?

That is true, our hospital has an international staff with Greek, Italian, Turkish, American and Austrian doctors. We did, in fact, have a German surgeon as well for a few years. We are always seeking opportunities to expand our collaboration network and bring in new experts from all over the world. The opportunity to collaborate with German doctors was narrow, but it’s something that we are inquiring into and exploring.

What would your final message be to our German audience?

Our goal and strategy for American Hospital for the upcoming years is health tourism. We invite the German audience to visit Albania for its beautiful nature, the mountains and the blue seaside, for the traditional food, for the hospitality, which is one of our great assets, and also consider our health care service for specific treatments, which are up to international standards but with lower and more acceptable costs.

The original article can be found in this link ONLINE.

The aging process is an inevitable process which comes naturally despite of our desire. As we try to avoid it, gravity, environmental exposure and genetics will eventually begin to reveal our age. And while some tolerate aging as a natural part of life, some others want to look younger and more beautiful.
Plastic surgery is an important and useful solution to address some of the most common aesthetic concerns that we face. One of the key benefits of plastic surgery is its ability to increase self-confidence and give yourself a “fresh look” all the time. Many of our patients complain that while they still feel energetic and alive, their appearance shows another perspective. Mirroring can bring confusion because the way you perceive yourself outside is not the same as the way you feel inside. Fortunately, plastic surgery can take off a few years, so you can watch yourself as young as you feel.

The Department of Plastic Surgery at American Hospital is composed with professional and qualified plastic surgeons, both local and international, who offer a wide range of reconstructive and cosmetic surgery services.

American Hospital’s Plastic Surgery has not only fulfilled the demands of those who prefer a more sophisticated look, but also went against every belief that plastic surgery is performed just outside the country.

Mario Karaj, General Manager of American Hospital reveals the vision for the future: the bad media practice…blackmails!

American Hospital is a reality of Albanian private health sector and for more than a decade has made a continuously progress, bringing a new image to hospitals and comfort for patients who already found their life cure within their home country. A big investment that has served for the whole country’s development through a well-organized structure and a forward-looking strategy, which seems to be more than successful. For more than 9 years at the head of this institution is Mario Karaj, graduated in the United States of America who returned in Albania, for this interesting new challenge. In this detailed interview, Mr. Karaj talks about the moment when he chose to embrace this ambiguous project, the difficulties he faced, the achievements and the vision on the future of American Hospital, Albania.

Interview with Mr. Mario Karaj, General Manager, American Hospital, Albania

You returned from USA and choose to work in American Hospital. What made you took this decision, which were the challenges and could you give us a general overview of American Hospital?

Yes, it is true, I returned from USA in 2010.
After a 10-year period in America, where I studied for Business Management and gained various work experiences, I choose to be part of American Hospital management team. I decided to come back because the American Project to develop medical service in Albania was very challenging and interesting to me. American Hospital is an investment of the American Investment Fund, in partnership with the US Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Pension Fund in Denmark. From the beginnings till now, it should be mentioned that the investment as a whole has been colossal and has served for the Albanian patients as well as for the development of the country in general.

What are some of advantages that American Hospital has brought for patients?

One of the main advantages of setting up such a big structure is that Albanian patients with difficult and specific diagnoses no longer need to travel outside of the country, where, in addition of high costs, they also face with many other issues, starting from difficulties of communication with foreign doctors, long journeys and post-operative follow-up difficulties, requiring frequent re-examination. In other words, being a foreigner is difficult, imagine being a foreign patient how exhausting it might be. American Hospital has brought to Albania not only the latest medical technology and equipment, but also the most professional doctors that every medical institution in the world would like to have.

The Dialysis Center opened in American Hospital in 2008, at that time in Albania the number of dialysis patients were less than 40 people in the whole country. These patients received this service, precious for their lives, with some basic equipment’s that were residues of the Kosovo war. The rest were destined to die or emigrate abroad to receive the dialysis service.

Today, thanks to this project and government’s support, over 1200 patients, all around Albania are treated, improving their quality of life and increasing longevity. There are over 1200 lives saved.

I also want to take this opportunity to state that in relation to public-private partnership of laboratories, which will be a great innovation for Albanian health, neither the American Hospital nor Mr. Klodian Allajbeu personally has not had and has nothing to do with this project, nor with the union operator that has won this partnership both inside and outside Albania. Any other allusion is simply a lie.

American Hospital’s Progress in more than a decade is evident, but what would you consider as a problem…?
On the dark side of the medal, I would like to mention one of the things that is shocking as a fact and that is a major issue in business development in Albania: the fact that the American Hospital has been facing and continues to face steadily pressure and blackmail, from different media. The intentional attack on business is turning into an operative mode from some unprofessional media outlets. I would like to take the opportunity and ask them to not lose their credibility and professionalism and to have the integrity of freedom of speech.

In addition, are you satisfied with what you have achieved?

Our response to these phenomena is the devotion in our work and the constant increase of patient satisfaction. This has led American Hospital to have a large demand from patients being “forced” in good sense of the word, to be constantly expanded.

What are your plans for the future?

For many years, American Hospital has been focused on serving local patients. Records and success stories of American Hospital have exceeded Albania’s borders, making foreign patients more and more trust us. For about five years now, the American Hospital welcomes foreign patients who choose to be treated in Albania, thus turning medical tourism into a hotspot of economy development for the upcoming years. With the expansion of the hospital network throughout Albania, the capacity and technology have advanced and the management staff now aims at attracting medical travelers “Health Tourism” as a priority for the next five years.

Albania is not known as a medical travel destination, however some private healthcare groups in the country are now investing heavily in quality and branding to attract foreign patients. Maria D. Georga, Laing Buisson Regional Manager, has visited Albania to find out why international patients might be persuaded to come.

There were very few medical travellers to Albania in 2017; some sources suggest it was barely more than 700.
Attracted primarily because it is the cheapest country in the Balkans for healthcare, these few patients generally travel from Kosovo and Montenegro. Common treatments include cosmetic surgery, dental and orthopaedic surgery, however Albania’s private hospitals also offer foreign patients cardiovascular surgery, laparoscopic surgeries, and treatments for fertility and obesity. There is also a developing market for spa and health tourism.

Developing private healthcare

Most healthcare is still state-run, however newer private hospitals and clinics have set up outpatient services in major cities. These tend to offer high tech treatment and diagnostic services, and are well organised and funded. All dental clinics are privately owned, and recently a number of these clinics have noticed an increase in Italian patients.

The first private hospital to be set up in Albania was The American Hospital of America  (Spitali Amerikan) in 2006, with financial support from a variety of US, European and international organisations. It has since built a reputation as a leading player in the development of the private healthcare sector in Albania.
In November 2018, The American Hospital was the main sponsor of the 4th International Multidisciplinary Medical Congress in Tirana. This congress brought together healthcare professionals from across both Albania and several other countries to exchange knowledge about innovations in healthcare; improving quality assurance; and developing medical tourism in the country.

Dr Klodian Allajbeu, CEO of The American Hospital, said “As the first big private hospital investment in Albania, we had to recruit doctors from other countries. We came to this decision not only because we could not find doctors in our country but mainly because we wanted to bring in high expertise.”
For a number of years, the hospital had so many Albanian patients that they did not actively target the international patient market. Following two private hospital acquisitions in 2018, capacity has expanded and the group has now made attracting medical travellers a priority for the next five years.
According to Dr. Allajbeu, the Albanian government is generally supportive of private healthcare institutions and healthcare legislation is flexible, particularly in areas like fertility treatment.

Medical tourism potential

Despite its low profile in international healthcare, Albania is attractive for tourists. International flights connect Tirana airport with most destinations. The city reflects the various waves of immigration over the last 20-30 years, and Albanians returning to their home country have adopted business ideas, architectural styles and expertise in many areas. Tirana has become a modern city, where English is widely spoken, tourism infrastructure is good, and foreign visitors will have a comfortable and safe stay.
As an easy next step in attracting more medical travellers, there is potential for Albania to target the significant first- and second-generation diaspora, who moved out of the country in the 1990s. Based in many European countries like Greece, Italy, the UK and Germany, they still keep in close contact with their country of origin, which they often visit.
Although there is no evidence of central government support to promote medical travel to Albania, the private healthcare sector seems to be taking action. Albania could make an appealing medical travel destination for patients, particularly for those who are looking for low cost solutions.