The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Evis Sala, during the forum “Cancer Control in Albania: Prevention, Screening and Patient Care”, organized by the Institute of Public Health (IPH), highlighted the government’s commitment to a comprehensive and coordinated approach in the fight against cancer.

Speaking not only as Minister but also as a specialist in oncological imaging, Minister Sala shared her many years of experience working closely with patients and their families, emphasizing that the fight against cancer is a shared societal challenge that requires dedication, cooperation, and a long-term vision.

The Minister presented several key pillars of the oncology reform, including:

· Strengthening screening and prevention, through the expansion of the cervical cancer screening age range from 40–50 to 35–55 years, as well as the launch of HPV vaccination for both girls and boys.

· The establishment of the National Institute of Oncology and the National Cancer Network, which, in cooperation with the National Cancer Institute in Milan, aims to develop a research and scientific institution based on European models and to bring oncology services closer to patients through the “Hub and Spoke” model, with unified treatment protocols nationwide.

· The engagement of human capital, including Albanian physicians working in leading European centers of excellence who are actively contributing to this historic reform.

· Addressing shortages of oncology medicines and expanding the reimbursable medicines list, through a transparent and rigorous process that has reduced costs while ensuring the quality of medications.

· Enhancing radiotherapy capacities, where, in collaboration with the Atomic Energy Agency, three linear accelerators are expected to become operational soon, along with the introduction of a modern brachytherapy system.

Minister Sala expressed her gratitude to all professionals and institutions involved in this reform process, stressing that teamwork and placing the patient at the center are the driving forces behind meaningful and sustainable health system reforms