The University Hospital Center “Mother Teresa” has put its new Cardiac Surgery Hospital into operation. The new facility has modern premises and services and aims to provide patients with higher standards of care.

During an inspection of the new facilities, Prime Minister Edi Rama and Health and Social Welfare Minister Klodiana Spahiu reviewed the capacity and organization of cardiac surgery services. They also looked at the work carried out to improve the hospital’s infrastructure.

The cardiac surgery department has added three beds, increasing its capacity from 35 to 38 beds. The facility has 15 separate rooms, with two beds each. The rooms provide the necessary conditions for hygiene and sterilization.

The new facility also includes a dedicated room for sterile procedures. This eliminates the need to perform such procedures in the intensive care unit.

The operating block has five rooms. Two serve vascular surgery, two serve cardiac surgery and one is a hybrid operating room. The new block expands and improves the hospital’s capacity for surgical interventions and complex procedures.

Another part of QSUT’s development plan concerns financial autonomy, which will take effect next year.

During the visit to the Cardiac Surgery Hospital, Minister Spahiu and Prime Minister Rama recognized the contribution of professionals who have worked in these facilities over the years. They presented certificates of appreciation to professors and doctors Edmond Kapedani, Aurora Knuti, Efrosina Kajo, Arben Baboçi, Ajli Alushani and Ali Refatllari.

“Many thanks go to all the professors who have contributed and who, fortunately, are here with us today. We will do our best across all services. However, I would like the director to work closely with all the heads of services. We must recognize the people who have contributed to these services over the years. I have the pleasure and honor of presenting certificates of appreciation to Prof. Dr. Edmond Kapedani, Dr. Aurora Knuti, Prof. Dr. Efrosina Kajo, Prof. Dr. Arben Baboçi, Prof. Dr. Ajli Alushani and Prof. Dr. Ali Refatllari. They are all my professors,” Spahiu said.

Rama, meanwhile, said that the government has completed the investments at QSUT as a whole. He said the hospital should no longer face budget restrictions when it comes to completing its remaining needs.

“We will have to address all of them through the 2027 budget. That is the ambition. The second point, which we also discussed earlier, is that once we complete the large 1,400-space parking facility at the entrance, we will finally remove all cars from the hospital grounds. As I understand it, around 900 spaces will serve staff vehicles, while another 500 spaces will remain and generate additional revenue for the hospital,” Rama said.

Rama also said the government plans to turn the entire hospital grounds into a large park.

“We will start working on it now, and I believe we will complete it within two years,” he said.

“Another important point is that we are continuing discussions on a partnership between the hospital and another very well-known institution. We have several options, but the discussions are continuing. I believe we will soon establish this partnership. It will involve hospital management and cooperation with the partner institution, where doctors will take part in a joint program.

“Our doctors will go there, and doctors from that hospital will come here. So this will not simply involve working visits. It will create a structure managed according to standards of excellence. It will also help us gain greater clarity on the financial autonomy that will take effect next year,” Rama stressed.

The Prime Minister also said that the plan includes the construction of a private facility within the hospital.

“This will be a facility where you can work in parallel and which will also bring a significant increase in your income. This is the plan. We are negotiating. The minister is conducting the discussions. We have plenty of reasons to be optimistic,” Rama said.

QSUT will continue its investment program in the coming stages. The aim is to address the hospital’s needs and further improve the conditions in which it provides services to patients and staff.