At a time when Albanian citizens face long lines at hospitals every day, a lack of medicines, and constant complaints about corruption in the healthcare system, it seems that the priorities of the Minister of Health, Evis Sala, have taken a different direction, and that is justice.
From the UN General Assembly hall, Minister Sala spoke about gender equality and women's access to justice. The media release states that the Minister of Health spoke about the importance of strong laws, accountable institutions and mechanisms that help women and girls have more access to the justice system.
Of course, gender equality is a serious and important issue. But for many Albanian citizens, a simple question remains: is this an area where a Minister of Health should focus?
Because while international forums talk about justice reforms and legal mechanisms, in the corridors of Albanian hospitals the reality continues to be grim. Patients waiting long for visits, lack of medications, and constant complaints about the way the system functions.
The irony of the situation lies in the fact that the health problems have already been solved and the minister has found time to deal with areas that actually belong to the justice institutions. Meanwhile, for citizens waiting for hours in hospital corridors, the priorities may seem somewhat more mundane: faster service, available medicines, and a system that functions without "friends."
Until this happens, citizens will continue to wait in hospital lines, while Evis Sala will speak from international halls that Albania is making progress in other areas.
