The Italian National Institute of Health (ISS) and the Albanian Institute of Public Health (IPH) signed a memorandum of understanding on health today in Tirana. The agreement, effective immediately and valid for five years, was signed by ISS President Prof. Rocco Bellantone and IPH Director Prof. Dorina Toci, in the presence of Albanian Health Minister Prof. Evis Sala and Italian Ambassador Marco Alberti.
The purpose of the agreement is to launch initiatives in key areas of bilateral strategic cooperation in health, such as treatment and research on infectious and non-communicable diseases, health and the environment, epidemiological surveillance, food safety, and innovative technologies in the health sector. The memorandum also provides for the exchange of researchers and the launch of joint training initiatives.
In their remarks, both Minister Sala and Ambassador Alberti highlighted the strength of bilateral relations in the health sector, as well as their intention to collaborate on further strengthening them, with the goal of creating systems centered on research, prevention, and the qualitative improvement of healthcare services.
“We are very pleased with this further step forward,” stated Alberti, “conceived as a follow-up to the broader G2G Agreement signed between Italy and Albania in Rome in November 2025. ‘That Agreement,’ the diplomat continued, ‘includes health and healthcare among the sectors of high strategic priority.’ The agreement signed today, together with other important initiatives already underway, such as the Matherna project, funded by development cooperation funds, confirms the commitment of the two countries and strengthens their cooperation, also with a view to EU accession negotiations.”
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