# Ministry of Health and Social Protection

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection (Albanian: Ministria e Shëndetësisë dhe Mbrojtjes Sociale) is a department of the Albanian Government, charged with the responsibility to oversee the running of Albania's healthcare system, including supporting universal and affordable access to medical, pharmaceutical and hospital services, while helping people to stay healthy through health promotion.

## History

In 1914 Prince William of Wied built a new structure, entrusting the then Minister of Health Mihal Turtulli. In 1920 with the government of the Lushnja Congress, was established the structure of the General Directorate of Health (DPSH), which functioned as such until 1944.
The Ministry of Health was founded in 1944 when DPSH became a Ministry. The Ministry had its structure with 21 employees and 175 Albanian and foreign doctors practicing the activity throughout the country.
Since the establishment of the institution, the Ministry of Health has been reorganized by joining other departments or merging with other ministries, thus resulting in its name changing several times. This list reflects the changes made in years in pluralist history since 1992 as an institution:
* Ministry of Health and Environment (Albanian: Ministria e Shëndetësisë dhe Mjedisit) from 1992 to 1998
* Ministry of Health (Albanian: Ministria e Shëndetësisë) from 1998 to 2017
* Ministry of Health and Social Protection (Albanian: Ministria e Shëndetësisë dhe Mbrojtjes Sociale) from 2017 - current

## Subordinate institutions

The ministry owns and manages all the public hospitals in Albania
* Albanian Health Insurance Institute
* Public Health Institute
* National Center for Blood Transfusion
* National Center for the Development and Rehabilitation of Children
* Dental Clinic for Undergraduates
* Medical Helicopter Transportation Unit
* National Center for Medicine and Medical Equipment
* Electro Medical Provider
* National Center for Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Health Institutions
* National Center of Education in Continuity

## Officeholders (1944–present)

| No. | Name | Term in office | Term in office |
| 1 | Ymer Dishnica | 23 October 1944 | 21 March 1946 |
| 2 | Medar Shtylla | 22 March 1946 | 5 June 1955 |
| 3 | Ibrahim Dervishi | 6 June 1955 | 24 September 1956 |
| 4 | Manush Myftiu | 4 June 1956 | 6 February 1958 |
| 5 | Taqi Skëndi | 6 February 1958 | 6 June 1961 |
| 6 | Çiril Pistoli | 6 June 1961 | 21 November 1971 |
| 7 | Llambi Ziçishti | 21 November 1971 | 17 May 1982 |
| 8 | Ajli Alushani | 17 May 1982 | 19 February 1987 |
| 9 | Ahmet Kamberi | 20 February 1987 | 21 February 1991 |
| 10 | Sabit Brokaj | 22 February 1991 | 6 December 1991 |
| 11 | Kristo Pano | 18 December 1991 | 13 April 1992 |
| 12 | Tritan Shehu | 13 April 1992 | 14 January 1994 |
| 13 | Maksim Cikuli | 14 January 1994 | 10 March 1997 |
| 14 | Astrit Kalenja | 11 March 1997 | 24 July 1997 |
| 15 | Leonard Solis | 25 July 1997 | 28 November 1999 |
| 16 | Gjergj Koja | 28 November 1999 | 29 January 2002 |
| 17 | Mustafa Xhani | 22 February 2002 | 29 December 2003 |
| – | Leonard Solis | 29 December 2003 | 1 September 2005 |
| – | Maksim Cikuli | 9 September 2005 | 1 March 2007 |
| 18 | Nard Ndoka | 1 March 2007 | 23 July 2008 |
| 19 | Anila Godo | 23 July 2008 | 16 September 2009 |
| 20 | Petrit Vasili | 16 September 2009 | 27 June 2012 |
| 21 | Vangjel Tavo | 27 June 2012 | 3 April 2013 |
| 22 | Halim Kosova | 3 April 2013 | 14 September 2013 |
| 23 | Ilir Beqaj | 15 September 2013 | 12 March 2017 |
| 24 | Ogerta Manastirliu | 19 March 2017 | 21 May 2017 |
| 25 | Arben Beqiri | 22 May 2017 | 11 September 2017 |
| 26 | Ogerta Manastirliu | 13 September 2017 | 9 September 2023 |
| 27 | Albana Koçiu | 12 September 2023 | Incumbent |