Press Releases

U.S. Ambassador Ries Opens Conference On Expanding Primary Health Care Reform in Albania (March 17, 2005)

U.S. Ambassador Marcie Ries opened a conference in Tirana today that provided an opportunity for many regions in Albania to learn about health reform in the Berat region and identify ways they could implement similar reforms. The conference marked the end of three years of USAID assistance to primary health care reform efforts through the PHRplus Project. It was designed as a forum to review the status of primary health care reform in Albania and to examine approaches that proved successful during implementation in the Berat region. The Ambassador was joined by Minister of Health Leonard Solis and USAID/Albania Mission Director Harry Birnholz in welcoming participants to the conference.

The PHRplus Project, totaling $5.8 million, provided technical assistance to the government of Albania from 2002-2005. The Project leaves behind an integrated PHC model, many elements of which are already being used both by the government and by other donor organizations. This model was used to develop family medicine training materials and approaches and a PHC health information system.