Embassy of the United States Tirana, Albania

• Influenza Information;
• Medical Insurance;
• Medical Escort and Medical Evacuation;
• Entering Albania with Medication for Personal Use;
• Shipping Medication from the United States to Albania;
• List of Medical Doctors, Hospitals and Clinics, Dentists, Crisis Counseling Services, and Air Ambulances.

Influenza Information

For information on Influenza we suggest you visit the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs web page “Fact Sheet: 2009-H1N1, Pandemic Influenza, and H5N1.” Additionally, the U.S. Government's FLU.gov website provides useful information to people living abroad through their web page “People Living Abroad.”

Medical Insurance Information

In Albania, doctors and hospitals expect payment in cash at the time of service.  Your regular U.S. health insurance may not cover doctors’ and hospital visits in Albania.  If your policy doesn’t go with you when you travel, it’s a very good idea to take out another one for your trip.  For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs web page “Medical Insurance.”

Medical Escorts and Medical Evacuation

If you become ill in Albania and require assistance to fly back to the United States, you may hire a medical escort.  Generally, when a medical escort is hired, a physician with basic medical equipment accompanies the patient on board a commercial airline flight.  If you are seeking a medical escort, you may consult with the physicians or hospitals on this list to see about options for hiring one.

If you require additional assistance, you may decide to be medically evacuated and hire an air ambulance service.  An air ambulance is an aircraft that gives immediate medical assistance in case of emergencies. Each air ambulance is normally equipped with medical equipment along with specialized medical personnel to care for the patient’s needs. Family members are usually allowed to accompany the patient.  For a list of air ambulances and other services, please read below.

If you do not need medical assistance to return on a commercial flight, but are not able to use a normal seat inside the aircraft, a few commercial airline companies departing from Albania to the U.S. may provide a commercial stretcher service.  Costs depend on the number of seats required to provide the service.  You should contact the airlines directly for additional information.

Entering Albania With Medication for Personal Use

Travelers entering Albania with legal medications are not generally  required to abide by any specific Albanian regulation.  However, customary practice dictates that for amounts which far exceed those sufficient for 30 days of treatment, Albanian health and customs authorities may request travelers to show a doctor’s prescription.  Some narcotics, psychotropic and doping substances are legal for use but prohibited for import into Albania and if found by Border or Customs authorities will lead to legal difficulties.  Travelers carrying narcotics for personal medical use must have a medical certificate drawn up by the competent state health authority prior to their departure.  Failure to do this may result in the confiscation of the narcotic by the customs authorities.

Should travelers have any medical issues or questions regarding medicine while staying in Albania, they should contact a doctor or hospital.  For a list of some doctors and hospital operating in Albania, please read below.

Shipping Medication From the United States to Albania

Under Albanian law, the importation of medication into Albania is strictly regulated.  Albanian customs and health authorities generally clear incoming shipments of medication only upon the presentation of a prescription or a statement signed by a physician licensed in Albania, certifying that the medication is essential for the patient.  Essential is deemed that the patient would be put in a life-threatening situation without the medication.  For further information visit the website of the Albanian Ministry of Health.

List of Doctors, Hospitals and Clinics, Dentists, Crisis Counseling Services, and Air Ambulances

Last updated April 2013
U.S. Embassy Tirana assumes no responsibility for the professional ability or reputation of the persons or medical facilities whose names appear on these lists.  Most of the physicians and personnel speak varying levels of English.  These lists are intended to provide alternative medical resources.

• List of Medical Doctors (PDF 762.64 KB);
• List of Hospitals and Clinics (PDF 398.73 KB);
• List of Dentists (PDF 345.02 KB);
• List of Crisis Counseling Services (PDF 238.96 KB);
• List of Air Ambulances and Other Services (PDF 254.82 KB).