Rehabilitation Service Assessment and Workforce Capacity Building in Albania—A Civil Society Approach

Abstract

Background: Rehabilitation is an important health strategy. Due to the lack of rehabilitation professionals (e.g., no physical and rehabilitation medicine, occupational therapist, and others) and lack of rehabilitation services (e.g., no multi-profession rehabilitation services in hospital, no post-acute rehabilitation services, no community-based rehabilitation services), the need to strengthen rehabilitation in Albania was pronounced. Therefore, this project aimed at rehabilitation service assessment and workforce capacity building in Albania. Methods: The World Health Organization’s Template for Rehabilitation Information Collection was used to collect available data related to rehabilitation services. Additionally, two site visits to different rehabilitation centers including interviews with relevant stakeholders were performed. A stakeholders’ workshop to prioritize recommendations was also performed before finalizing the report. Results: In Albania, rehabilitation service delivery, rehabilitation workforces, and financing in rehabilitation need to be strengthened. Conclusions: The project achieved the intended objectives. Additionally progress has been occurring in the development and implementation of the Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine specialization at the University of Medicine, Tirana.