Author: Aurora Shpataj
Fatimja is expecting to become a mother. Just like 35 residents of Mallakastra, the woman also has to attend to any health concern at the "Sherif Klosi" municipal hospital. But even this hospital, like any other municipal hospital, is expected to reduce the medical Services it offers, due to the shrinking population. So the couple has planned to give birth to the child in another hospital.
"There are many things missing here. For a while the echo was missing and when I wanted to do a consultation about my child's health it was broken. At least that's what I was told.” the new expression for Signal
According to the information stated on the condition of anonymity by the medical staff inside the hospital, it is expected that the maternity ward will soon be out of order due to the lack of births.
"There is no birth and we have been told that it will turn into a health consultation."- claims one of the hospital doctors.
Another reason that is leading to the closure of the maternity hospital is the lack of staff. "The anesthetist is missing in the maternity ward, he must come from Fieri in case there is a birth. So it should be announced in advance. But, this thing is impossible, because it could happen that I have a premature birth, then what will happen to me and my baby?! We will both die waiting for the anesthesiologist?"- says Mrs. Fatima, who is in the fifth month of pregnancy.
Fatimja says that because of these problems that have caused her fear, she plans to give birth in the Fier hospital.
"I will give birth in the hospital of Fier. In the maternity ward, I only do basic consultations here. I follow all the others in Fier.”- Fatimja, who is waiting to become a mother for the second time, concludes her story.
The lack of medical staff is reinforced by an obstetrician-gynecologist who works at the "Queen Geraldine" maternity hospital in Tirana. According to him, the main factors why pregnant women choose to give birth in regional hospitals such as Durrës, Tirana, etc., are related to the lack of staff.
"The lack of an anesthesiologist is the primary factor that sends mothers to regional hospitals. This is because a gynecologist cannot enter the room without an anesthetist because complications that were not previously planned may arise during childbirth. Another element is the lack of an obstetrician, which forces these mothers to go to regional hospitals for delivery.. "
A gynecologist writes the same concern on the "Sinjalizo" platform.
"The same situation exists in my hometown Gramsh. Lack of staff leads to choosing central hospitals. The fear that due to the lack of staff the child may be born with problems or the risk of losing the life of the child or the mother causes them to abandon the municipal hospitals. "
The doctor tells about "Sinjalizo", the other reason that is bringing about the closure of maternity hospitals in the districts.
"It also affects the departure of young people abroad. The phenomenon of the decrease in the number of births has also affected large cities such as: Tirana, Durres, Fieri. I say this based on my experience of over 15 years as a gynecologist.”- explains the well-known doctor after being contacted for further details.
The decrease in the number of births is also expressed by INSTAT in its report of 2022, where for the first time during 2021 the natural increase of the population (birth-death) was -3.296 inhabitants, marking for the first time a negative natural increase. Also in the report it is emphasized that during 2021, 27.284 babies were born, suffering a decrease of 2,8%, compared to the previous year.
Mallakastra Hospital, with partial Services for residents
Currently, according to Dr. Kastriot, who works as an external physician at the "Sherif Klosi" municipal hospital, only first aid is offered there.
"We provide primary service here, i.e. emergency cases. We leave the others for Fier. "
According to the doctor, the hospital is divided into several buildings with relevant Services.
"In the hospital we have different pavilions such as: pathology, pneumology, nephrology, microsurgery, laboratory. But the laboratory offers only blood and urine tests. So it must be completed with other examinations. "
Four doctors are employed in this hospital
"2 are internal, 2 external where one of them is me. We have 4 nurses on duty and 2 laboratory technicians.” the doctor explains further
Asked by "Sinjalizo" about investments in the hospital, the doctor says that "The reconstruction was done on the facade, that is, in painting and painting. Several paintings have been done in the building. 2 ambulances have also been added to my knowledge. That was the state's reconstruction.” says the doctor.
Meanwhile, from the observation in the field it is understood that the number of patients who are directed to the municipal hospital was low. In the best case, an elderly person appeared there to consult for small medical Services, such as making a needle, performing a serum, etc. During the interviews with the white shirts that provide service at the hospital, it was shown that there are no hospitalized patients in this hospital.
"In total, there are 20 beds in the hospital, but we do not have any hospitalized patients.”-officially confirms for Signal the doctor on duty.
However, the doctor who has decided to report the problems in the hospital lists in detail what is missing.
"Mammography is missing, which leads to patients being sent to the hospital in Fier. In this hospital, the mammogram comes once every three months, from those mobile mammograms. But I cannot wait three months, because of the typology of the disease. So if I suspect that a patient has cancer, I recommend that he head to the Fier hospital to have it done. But even there there are difficulties because there are long queues, so patients end up in private.” - concludes the doctor for "Signal".
"Sinjalizo" asked for official information through the official request for information addressed to the Ministry of Health and the municipal hospital "Sherif Klosi", but until the publication of this article, no official response was given by them.
