Albania’s QSUT to become Balkan medical excellence center under new agreement with San Raffaele
Photo: Albana Koçiu, Minister of Health and Social Protection.
Prime Minister Edi Rama announced on Monday a strategic agreement between Albania’s University Hospital Center “Mother Teresa” (QSUT), the University of Medicine in Tirana, and Italy’s San Raffaele University Hospital and its affiliated Vita-Salute San Raffaele University. The partnership aims to raise Albania’s medical education and healthcare standards to a European level.
Why is this important: The agreement is positioned as a major step toward transforming Albania’s healthcare and medical education sectors. It sets the ambition for QSUT to become a regional leader in medical services and education, potentially reducing the need for Albanians to seek healthcare abroad.
Context: San Raffaele University Hospital, based in Milan, is one of Europe’s leading centers for clinical excellence, medical research, and advanced education. It is internationally recognized for pioneering treatments in neurology, cardiology, oncology, and organ transplantation, and its associated university, Vita-Salute San Raffaele, is ranked among the top medical schools in Italy.
Speaking in Tirana, Prime Minister Rama said that the cooperation will bring direct involvement of San Raffaele’s experts in managing QSUT’s operations and daily organization. According to the agreement, by 2030, QSUT is expected to undergo a full transformation modeled on the reforms San Raffaele previously implemented in Poland.
Rama emphasized that this is not merely a symbolic partnership. Medical professionals from both institutions will work side-by-side, combining their expertise to improve public healthcare in Albania. The goal is to establish a stable, high-quality service that can serve not only Albanians but the wider Balkan region.
What else: The agreement also envisions a profound upgrade of the University of Medicine in Tirana. Students will have the opportunity to earn a degree equivalent to the one awarded by Vita-Salute San Raffaele, significantly boosting the university’s academic profile and attracting students from across the Balkans.
“This cooperation will make it possible for medical services that today require travel to Turkey or Italy to be available here, within Albania’s public healthcare system,” Rama said.
He added that the University of Medicine will become a gateway for Balkan students seeking European-level medical education, offering internationally recognized diplomas.
The move marks a broader government effort to modernize Albania’s healthcare system, increase regional competitiveness, and retain medical talent within the country.
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