Another scandal in healthcare/ Cancer Registry without data, patients without security

2026-02-10 10:48:00, Denoncim CNA

Another scandal in healthcare/ Cancer Registry without data, patients without

Another serious scandal comes to light in the Albanian healthcare system. Despite the fact that since 2014 there has been a Decision of the Council of Ministers for the functioning of the National Cancer Registry, today, after more than a decade, monitoring and evaluation reports on tumor diseases in Albania are missing.

CNA has long brought reports and scandals arising from the monitoring of the Supreme State Audit Office on tumor patients and drugs used for oncology patients, but today we are focusing on another fact.

According to the VKM no. 327, the National Cancer Registry must collect, analyze and publish data on the incidence, mortality and survival from cancer. But according to the HSE, the institution responsible for this process, which is the Institute of Public Health, there is no data on new cases, the course of the disease or mortality.

" On the measures taken in the framework of cancer monitoring in Albania, the Council of Ministers, with DCM no. 327, dated 28.05.2014 "On determining the format and manner of collecting and reporting data by providers of healthcare services , public or private", has approved the data reporting system for the functioning of the National Cancer Registry. The function of the Cancer Registry is to collect, compare, analyze and interpret data on cancer incidence, mortality and survival ", the report states.

From the verifications of the Supreme State Audit, it results that the Ministry of Health and Social Protection:

-does not have monitoring and evaluation reports for the National Tumor Control Program;

-has not taken measures for the real and updated functioning of the National Cancer Registry;

-has not set clear objectives for breast and cervical cancer screening in the National Health Strategy 2021–2030.

" It is established that the Ministry of Health and Social Protection:
a. does not have monitoring and evaluation reports on the progress of the tumor.
b. has not taken measures to ensure that the National Cancer Registry has real-time data on
new cases of tumor diseases and mortality caused by cancer.
c. has not clearly defined objectives regarding the number of breast
and cervical cancer screenings in the National Health Strategy 2021-2030 ," the report states.

These shortcomings have serious consequences, because without data, planning cannot be done. It is not known whether policies have worked or failed, which raises a big question mark about corruption and misuse of funds, even when it comes to people fighting for their lives.

Budget planning is also at the heart of this problem. Funds for the “Mother Teresa” University Hospital are planned within the framework of the Medium-Term Budget Program, but without performance indicators and without real data on the oncology burden, the budget is not linked to the real needs of patients.

The lack of accurate statistics makes it impossible to predict the needs for health services, oncology drugs, and investments in time.

Lack of screening leads to delayed cancer diagnosis, reduced chances of survival, and increased treatment costs. Meanwhile, without measurable targets, no one is held accountable for the failure of prevention programs.

In the absence of a functional and transparent database, Albania is fighting cancer without statistics, without strategy and without control, while citizens pay the highest price: their health and lives./CNA