July 24, Tirana – At the Scientific Forum on ‘Effective investments in surgical services and the impact on the health of patients’, with the participation of experts from the Institute of Public Health, doctors from QSUT and leaders of the University of Medicine, the Minister of Health and Defense Sociale Ogerta Manastirliu, has emphasized the health benefits that investments in surgical services have brought.

“It is estimated that the daycare has decreased by 2 times, compared to the beginning of our work, when surgical wound infections were over 35%. Their reduction, already over the years, is a fact, which is not only measurable, but what is important is that the lives of citizens today are safer and the patient today in the hospital not only receives service faster, but also his recovery happens faster, precisely thanks to the investments made and the work done by our professionals in hospital surgical structures. From the moment of the starting point of this program, of sterilization and surgical instruments, there are over 400 thousand interventions carried out in the health system with European standards”, said Minister Manastirliu.
During this scientific forum, the Minister of Health and Social Protection said that the use of antibiotics has decreased significantly, but on the other hand, she asked hospital managers to standardize protocols in this regard, in order to preserve the health of citizens.

“The data of the PIH study, in relation to 2014, show that the use of antibiotics has decreased by 20% in the post-intervention days, and I believe that here we have a lot to say in relation to what hospitals should do. First, hospital managers, together with technical staff and hospital infection units, must periodically have evidence of the use of antibiotics. There is no longer any justification for using antibiotics without all microbiological tests, because we cannot use antibiotics because that is how it has been done and continue with the old model. It is the responsibility of the leaders of institutions and technical staff to declare war on antibiotic resistance”, said Manastirliu.
Prof. Arben Gjata said that thanks to the investments made and the sterilization program, there have been improved indicators in recent years, such as the reduction of hospital stays and the reduction of hospital infections.

“If we take it from 2019, almost 90% of operations were performed with traditional surgery, open surgery, which increased the risk. Today, more than 98% are performed laparoscopically, which reduces the length of stay, reduces the risk of infections”, said Prof. Length.
Research data of the Institute of Public Health at the Scientific Forum on ‘Effective Investments in Surgical Services. Impact on Patient Health’, clearly show the positive effect of the sterilization program and new surgical instruments in reducing hospital infections, increasing safety for the health and life of patients. The study conducted by ISHP compared the data of hospital infections, surgical wound infections and epidemic outbreaks that occurred before or after 2014 and after 2021. It also evaluated the use of antibiotics and hospital infections in the same periods in several hospitals. of the country (Lezhë Regional Hospital, Vlorë Regional Hospital, ‘Shefqet Ndroqi’ University Hospital and the 3rd Surgical Clinic of the “Mother Teresa” University Hospital Center, Tirana). All indicators show that: During 2021, fewer surgical wound infections are observed, where there were no isolations for different pathogens compared to previous years. During 2021, no epidemic outbreaks of nosocomial infections have been observed in the country’s hospitals, which indicates an improvement in the hospital environment, sterilization and disinfection and other measures. In the study, a 2-fold decrease in hospital stay was evident, as well as a 20% decrease in the number of patients who used antibiotics in surgical services, which is directly related to the decrease in infections treated with them.