The rapid growth of dental clinics in the country, driven by the growing demand for dental tourism, is being accompanied by increased attention from inspectors to operating standards.
During 2025, the inspection bodies of the State Health Inspectorate carried out 1,206 inspections and re-inspections in public and private dental offices and laboratories, according to official data reported by the institution. Of these, 1,162 were inspections and 44 re-inspections, while 5 fines, 6 urgent measures and 20 warnings were imposed.
The inspections come at a time when dental services are increasingly becoming an activity with economic weight, beyond basic health services. Albania has become a favorite destination for health tourism, especially dental, in recent years, with patients coming mainly from Italy, attracted by lower prices and favorable costs of stay.
The market itself reports that dental services in Albania are about 35 to 40 percent cheaper than in other European countries, while large operators in this segment have expanded their activity and revenues in recent years.
The figures show that Tirana remains the region with the highest number of inspections, with 410 inspections, 4 re-inspections, 3 fines, 2 decisions for urgent measures and 7 warnings. It is followed by Durrës with 126 inspections and 5 re-inspections, as well as Shkodra with 111 inspections and 25 re-inspections. Durrës is one of the regions where the most administrative measures have been observed, with 1 fine, 3 decisions and 6 warnings, which suggests that the pressure of demand and the expansion of activity are requiring stronger supervision.
The shortcomings found by the inspectors are mainly related to the lack of hygiene, sanitary and health documentation, such as hygiene and sanitary approval act, DDD certificate, drinking water analysis, personnel health booklets and relevant waste management documentation. Cases of non-renewal of the license to practice by doctors, insufficient space for activity and lack of facilities for temporary storage of hospital waste have also been found.
These problems are even more important as the dental market has expanded significantly in recent years. According to a previous article in Monitor, in 2019 alone, 710 new doctors were added to the register of licensed dentists, bringing the total number to 2,163 at the end of that year, up from 1,453 at the beginning.
This expansion of supply, combined with the boom in dental tourism, helped to multiply clinics and laboratories, especially in Tirana and in areas with easier access for foreigners./Monitor
