Kidney transplantation will resume at the Mother Teresa University Hospital Center within this year.

After a 12-year interruption, the Chief of the Surgery Service states that the country has signed an agreement with Italy, which will support in carrying out organ transplants in the public system.

“We are talking about starting kidney transplantation. We believe that within this year, transplantation will begin in public hospitals by our doctors with the support of Italian doctors,” Chief of the Surgery Service Arben Gjata told Euronews Albania.

After kidneys, the objective is to realize liver and pancreas transplants.

It will take time not only to prepare the staff but also to make legal changes and raise public awareness.

“We demand the drafting of a special law to include Albania in the European organ transplant bank and to convince the population to donate organs. We are talking about liver donation from deceased donors who have lost their lives and can donate organs,” added Gjata.

Two kidney transplants have been performed at the Mother Teresa University Hospital Center, the first in 2009 and the second in 2011.

The lack of hospital conditions led to the interruption of transplants until 2015 and their relocation to private hospitals, supported by packages from the health insurance fund, which enable patients to receive this service for free.

According to specialists in Albania, the need for kidney transplants is around 30 per year, and the organ is mainly donated by family members.