The government has taken a step towards changing the way people with mental health problems are treated, who are under compulsory treatment by court order. The General Directorate of Prisons has announced the tender for the construction of a new special hospital building within the Shenkoll Penitentiary Institution in Lezha, an investment with a limit fund of 1,070,358,762 lekë, or about 10.7 million euros, financed by the State Budget.
The procurement procedure was announced on July 31, 2026, while economic operators have until August 31 to submit bids.
According to the technical report of the project, the facility is conceived as a specialized hospital structure for the treatment of persons against whom the courts have imposed the measure of compulsory treatment. Unlike the traditional model of keeping them in penitentiary facilities, the new building aims to provide appropriate conditions for medical treatment, while guaranteeing high security standards.
The hospital will be built within the territory of the Shenkoll Penitentiary Institution, on an area of approximately 6,000 to 6,250 square meters, with a development of up to four floors. The project includes treatment facilities, wards, support services and technical infrastructure, designed according to modern standards for high-security health institutions.
The technical report foresees that the building will be constructed with a monolithic reinforced concrete structure, designed according to European Eurocode standards, with high resistance to earthquakes. Due to the characteristics of the terrain, a general concrete slab foundation has been chosen, while for the main building the thickness of the foundation slab will be 80 centimeters.
The construction materials will be of high grade, with C30/37 concrete and B-500S steel reinforcement, while the project foresees special measures against moisture, corrosion and seismic deformations, due to the geological conditions of the Shënkoll area.
The construction of this hospital comes after continuous criticism from the Ombudsman, who in his reports over the years has highlighted the inadequate conditions in which people with mental health problems who are under compulsory medical measures are kept. The institution has raised concerns about overcrowding, the lack of dignified conditions and their treatment in facilities that do not meet the standards of a health institution, recommending the creation of a specialized structure for this category.
The announcement of this investment is also seen as a response to these recommendations, as the project aims to replace the current model of treatment in prison facilities with a dedicated hospital, where medical treatment and rehabilitation are at the center of the service.
According to the technical documentation, the facility is classified as a structure of particular public importance and is designed to guarantee uninterrupted operation, maximum safety and longevity, respecting European design standards for hospital and critical buildings.
