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Public facilities in Albania must publish tariffs in advance – ask for the amount before treatment.
First response
Healthcare for tourists in Albania: what to do if you get sick
Healthcare for tourists in Albania starts with a short sequence: call 127 or the unified emergency number 112 when health is at risk, then contact your insurer as soon as you are referred to a facility. Do not postpone the payment question – in 2026, public facilities must publish tariffs in advance, tell the patient the treatment cost, and issue financial documents.
For a medical emergency, call 127. The National Centre decides which nearest ambulance team to dispatch.
For any emergency call, 112 is also available. The unified number is free on public telephone and digital networks.
After referral to a facility, contact your insurer as soon as possible.
Ask for the cost before treatment. Public facilities publish tariffs in advance, tell patients the cost, and issue financial documents.
Emergency numbers
Emergency care: 127 and 112
127 is Albania's medical emergency number. The National Centre receives the call and coordinates dispatch of the nearest ambulance team.
112 is the unified emergency number. It is available free of charge on public telephone and digital networks.
Seasonal care
Summer medical centres in 2026
During the 2026 summer season, Albania has 36 seasonal medical centres operating 24/7. Of these, 28 are in coastal areas, 5 in mountain areas, and 3 in cultural or religious tourist areas.
The seasonal network
36
summer medical centres
24/7
operating schedule
28
coastal centres
5 + 3
mountain and cultural areas
Only non-resident foreign tourists pay for certain services at these 36 centres. Card-terminal payment is available at every centre, and patients can ask for the amount before treatment.
Facility capacity
Hospitals and care outside Tirana
In 2026, Albania's public medical facilities introduced a unified process for foreign patients: tariffs must be published in advance, patients are told the treatment cost, and financial documents are issued.
The FCDO reference list updated on 17 March 2026 includes American Hospital in Tirana, Durrës, and Fier; German Hospital and Hygeia in Tirana; and the public Nënë Tereza hospital. It is a directory, not a recommendation of any facility.
Medical capacity outside Tirana is limited, ambulances are scarce, and evacuation can be difficult and expensive.
Daniel Silva
Before payment
Payment and travel insurance
At a public facility, ask to see the published tariff and obtain the cost before treatment. Collect the financial documents after payment. At seasonal centres, certain services are paid by non-resident foreign tourists, and card-terminal payment is available.
If you are referred to a medical facility, contact your insurer as soon as possible. Even with a policy, keep accessible funds for treatment, air-ambulance evacuation, and repatriation.
Check that the policy covers all medical costs and evacuation, the full trip including stopovers, planned activities, and exclusions. The comparison is covered separately in our guide to travel insurance for Albania.
Trip preparation
Medicines, vaccines and drinking water
Bring enough regular medication for the entire trip. Pack a copy of the prescription and a doctor's letter stating the medicine names, doses, and that the drugs are for your personal use.
MDFrescuerYouTube
Update routine vaccinations before travel. Hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for unvaccinated travellers to Albania.
According to the CDC, rabies vaccine after a possible exposure is typically available throughout most of Albania. The decision about pre-travel vaccination depends on planned activities and how quickly you can access care.
Boiled or bottled water is safer for drinking than tap water in Albania.
Emergency care and treatment
Frequently asked questions
Which number should I call for a medical emergency in Albania?
Call 127 for a medical emergency. The unified emergency number 112 is also available free of charge on public telephone and digital networks.
What should I do after referral to a clinic?
Contact your insurer as soon as possible.
How do I pay, and which documents should I collect?
At a public facility, ask for the treatment cost before the service and collect financial documents. Card-terminal payment is available at all 36 seasonal centres.
What should I check in a travel insurance policy?
Check medical costs and evacuation, the full itinerary with stopovers, planned activities, and exclusions.
How should I prepare regular medication?
Bring enough for the entire trip, plus a prescription copy and a doctor's letter with names, doses, and confirmation of personal use.
If you become ill, follow the sequence: 127 or 112, contact your insurer, obtain the cost before treatment, and keep the financial documents.
