The Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama paid an official visit to Turkey upon President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's invitation on January 6-7, 2021. The Prime Minister was accompanied by the Albanian Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu. The Agreement on the Cooperation Between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the Government of the Republic of Albania in the Fields of Health and Medicine, which revises the previous agreement signed between the two countries on November 13, 1999, to meet today's needs, was signed by Minister Koca and the Albanian Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu in the presence of the President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Edi Rama. The agreement envisages cooperation in the fields of
a) Strengthening of healthcare services
b) Public health and family practice including fight against communicable and non-communicable diseases and global pandemics
c) Health information systems and technologies, health statistics, hospital information management systems, e-health and command control systems, tele-medicine applications, etc.
d) Hospital management and administration
e) Accreditation and quality control services
f) Drugs, medical devices, medical consumables, cosmetics, vaccines, bio-technology and clinical research
g) Health care in emergencies and disasters
h) Short-term capacity building training programs for healthcare personnel
i) International patient treatment
j) Holding joint health weeks and health business fora
k) Health investments including health infrastructure planning, service procurement and public-private cooperation
As per article 4 of the said agreement, Turkey will continue to provide free treatment to 100 patients, who are unable to receive treatment in Albania.