Like many countries in Eastern Europe Albania used to have a well-developed healthcare system, which was backed by the government up until 1991. Technical and medical education and training was relatively good, although outdated thinking patterns remained. The collapse of the communist system also brought about a collapse of the healthcare system as well. The deficits present with regard to expertise, special skills and management know-how are now making themselves felt.

As in other Eastern Europe countries the reform of the healthcare system takes front and centre stage within the social area. The "SDC Strategy for Albania 2001-2004" defines the support of reforms in the health sector as one of four priorities. Actually SDC is implementing two specific programs:

Reformation of Albania's basic and advanced formation and training in the healthcare sector: A new nursing concept is being introduced which not only takes into account biological factors, but psychosocial ones as well. The goal is to improve the teaching methods and skills of the instructors. These changes in the medical technical area have to go hand in hand with sweeping changes in the thinking of those in charge and in organisational and planning methods.

Infrastructure: Since 1995 SDC is co-financing a project realised by Caritas Switzerland with the aim to rehabilitate the whole health system in the district of Lezha. Within this project SDC is financing in the last phase the rehabilitation of the district hospital.

At the macrolevel SDC - along with the WHO and the World Bank as well as other major donors - seeks to support Albania in defining a healthcare strategy of its own. In addition, SDC seeks to make specific contributions in particular to linking primary healthcare and secondary healthcare, organising nursing, and reforming the education and training and hospital management system with a focus on institution building and infrastructure.