The head of the Health Department in the Democratic Party, Ilir Alimehmeti, has raised strong accusations about the dialysis service in Albania, describing it as a scandal worth around 50 million euros and accusing the government of preparing the next tender for this service.
In a statement from the blue headquarters, Alimehmeti says that the government is preparing a new procedure that, according to him, risks favoring the private operator and strengthening the monopoly in the dialysis market.
He raises questions about the way the tender criteria and conditions were drafted, demanding transparency about the use of public funds and the beneficiaries of contracts.
According to Alimehmet, the dialysis service is a vital service for patients and for this reason, procurement procedures must guarantee real competition and the most efficient use of public money.
statement
Dear citizens, two weeks ago, Minister of Health Sala announced that after the end of the 10-year concession, the hemodialysis service will be returned to the state. Minister Sala stated that dialysis and check-ups will be taken over and will continue to be offered after the end of the relevant contracts, and this process has been entrusted to the operator of integrated sterilization services, a 100% state-owned company.
According to information, this agency is run by Ms. Arisa Cane, who previously worked as an embryologist at the American Hospital.
A few days later, a new tender was actually issued that proves Edi Rama's true plan for the dialysis service. For the part of the concession that will not actually be held by the state, and will most likely remain with the same private operator, Klodian Allajbeu's American Hospital, which has already created a monopoly in the hemodialysis service in Albania, at even higher prices.
According to published data, OSHIS has planned a procedure worth 50 million euros for the dialysis service in 5 public hospitals, in Shkodra, Lezha, Korça, Vlora and Elbasan for the next 4-year period. At 12.5 million euros per year, this is actually a very high cost and even higher than the 10-year concession contract for the previous dialysis. So instead of the state taking over the service after 10 years of concession and administering it with the capacities and equipment that it should have inherited from the private sector, a multi-year contract is being prepared again with high costs and financial burden for Albanian taxpayers.
And therefore, Minister Sala must come out and clarify: Where is the nationalization? If the service, the equipment, the investment or reinvestment goes to the state, why does the state have to spend another 50 million euros to subcontract it for these 4 years?
Before the government awards another multi-year contract, it should be transparent. What is the state really getting after 10 years from the first concession? Is this a way to cover up the violation of the concession contract, non-investment, abuse of payments for unperformed services, and many other problems? Has the 100% reinvestment foreseen in the contract been realized? What is the real value of the assets being taken over? Has the working group been established to request contracts for inspection and takeover? What has the working group found? Where are the inventories and technical reports?
All these documents and reports should be made public. In fact, these questions come after successive audits by the Supreme State Audit Office that found that the concessionaire had entered the 8th year without starting the reinvestment in medical equipment on time, although the contract provided that in the last 4 years the equipment would be renovated in such a way that it would be handed over to the state as new or with very few working hours and in full readiness for use.
So before Minister Sala commits another 50 million public euros, Albanians need to know: what did they get for the billions we have paid so far? Is a new contract being prepared for the same beneficiary?
The history of the first concession must be remembered. When the then minister Ilir Beqaj, by order of Edi Rama, predetermined the winner, the firm "Evita SHPK", even though it had a higher offer than the other 4 competitors. A firm that did not even have previous experience in hemodialysis. Just 5 days before the announcement of the winner, Evita created "Diavita" at the American Hospital represented by Klodian Allajbeu. And this contract, and this procedure must receive an administration and must be investigated by SPAK.
Therefore, today, when a new multi-year tender is being prepared for the same service and for the same 5 centers, the question is legitimate: Does the operator's director have a conflict of interest? Does the Minister of Health have a conflict of interest? Is a tender with a predetermined winner being prepared again? Are the criteria of the new tender open to real competition, or are the experience, technical capacities, equipment and other criteria being built in such a way that only the current operator or a structure related to it is able to meet them? Is the predetermined winner again Klodian Allajbeu?
SPAK can no longer remain silent and must investigate the entire chain of these procedures.
Before another multi-year contract gives the private sector tens of millions of euros more, it should be investigated how the first concession was awarded and how it was implemented. If the tender is truly open and competitive, Minister Sala should publish all the necessary criteria and documents today. If the state is truly taking over a functional service, let it publish the inventory of assets and equipment it is taking over today. And if the first concession was legal and in the interest of citizens, let SPAK investigate the documents, provide transparency and prove it. Because silence is not an answer. Thank you!
