Hemophilia patients in Albania will now have the support of the Italian state for the treatment of the disease. Albania's Minister of Health and Social Protection, Ogerta Manastirliu attended yesterday a working session in the Italian Senate for exchange of experiences and co-operation between countries for congenital blood diseases.
"Life expectancy and treatment of patients with hemoglobinopathies has changed qualitatively in recent years in Albania, but there is still much to be done in terms of prophylaxis and early identification of congenital diseases," said Manastirliu in her speech. She further praised Italy's support to provide concrete assistance to secure the factor VIII, which is vital to hemophiliacs. The session was chaired by Pier Paolo Sileri, president of the Italian Health Commission in the Italian Senate, also attended by the vice secretary of State Armando Bartolazzi, deputy secretary of the Ministry of Health of Italy.Minister Manastirliu held an official meeting earlier with Bartolazzi whereby the parties agreed to strengthen the cooperation and exchange between Albania and Italy on public health, pharmaceuticals, hospitals, education and training of doctors. The cooperation will be formalized with the new agreement between our two countries, which is expected to be signed soon by the respective ministers of Health. The meetings held in Italy are occuring in the framework of international co-operation projects in the field of congenital blood diseases, where Albania is a beneficiary of anticoagulant factors.