BackThe People’s Advocate Institution has been continuously monitoring the measures taken by the Albanian authorities to successfully cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The People’s Advocate carried out an own initiative investigation regarding the Decision of the Council of Ministers No. 908, approved by the Albanian government last November (18. Nov 2020), according to which every citizen diagnosed with COVID-19, is a beneficiary of the “pharmaceutical package for outpatient treatments of persons diagnosed with COVID-19”.
The People's Advocate found that this pharmaceutical package needs to be expanded for outpatient treatment at home of persons diagnosed with COVID-19, in order to guarantee to citizens sufficient and effective treatment.
With an approach that focuses on respecting the human rights of patients, specifically as defined in international and domestic acts, the People’s Advocate has therefore addressed the Ministry of Health and Social Protection with some essential issues and recommended taking immediate measures with regard to:
- expanding the pharmaceutical package for outpatient treatment at home of persons diagnosed with COVID-19, including laboratory tests and imaging examinations to diagnose and monitor the patient's clinical progress;
- guaranteeing the provision of health care without discrimination, including as beneficiary category the individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 during the period March-November 2020;
- ensuring healthcare service without discrimination; pharmaceutical package, without limiting it to the patients who have been tested positive from public health institutions but offering it to all patients diagnosed with this infectious disease regardless the way of conducting the examination or health institution when it is performed.
For the full recommendation of the People’s Advocate, please see the document further down below.
Source: Office of the People’s Advocate, Albania
