22nd May 2025
On 3 May, 2025 Albania hosted its first-ever EIT Health Morning Health Talks — part of a broader series aimed at fostering national-level dialogue on healthcare innovation across Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe.
Organised by EIT Health InnoStars, in collaboration with Barleti Medical Group and Barleti University, the event brought together key voices from healthcare, academia, and innovation for an open discussion on the future of digital health in the region.
Opening the event, Michele Biring-Pani, Business Development Director at Barleti Medical Group and co-organiser of the session, described it as more than a conversation starter. He positioned the gathering as a clear step toward shaping a digital health future for Albania.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, digital health efforts have intensified in Albania, aiming to modernise the healthcare system, improve service delivery, and align with European Union standards. While significant progress has been made, challenges remain — including uneven access, digital literacy gaps, and a lack of trust in digital health solutions. These issues persist among both healthcare providers and the general population, often reinforced by traditional practices in service delivery.
Participants agreed that strengthening digital competencies among healthcare professionals is essential, and that EU institutions have a valuable role to play in supporting this transition. There was strong consensus on the need to formalise digital health initiatives within national policy frameworks, with appropriate monitoring mechanisms and sustainable financing. Addressing these barriers presents a clear opportunity to enhance patient outcomes, improve system efficiency, and encourage regional cooperation across the Balkans.
One of the main speakers, Filipa Fixe Santos, a member of the EIT Health InnoStars Supervisory Board, brought practical experiences from Portugal on digital health. She emphasised that healthcare cannot ignore the general trend of the world, namely digitalisation, and that—like banks, for example—it must embrace digital technology. She also emphasised the significant role of the human workforce now and in the future.
The discussion also featured a practical example from Albania. Associate Professor Sokol Kosta presented an AI-driven project focused on lung cancer diagnostics, demonstrating the potential of secondary use of healthcare data to improve outcomes and accelerate early detection.
From a regional perspective, Zsolt Bubori, EIT Health InnoStars Ecosystem Lead for Hungary, outlined the opportunities available for Albanian innovators through InnoStars initiatives, including access to funding, mentoring, and international collaboration.
The EIT Health Morning Health Talks are designed to foster strategic conversations at the national level, offering local stakeholders a platform to connect, share best practices, and align with broader European innovation agendas. The success of the inaugural edition in Tirana positions Albania as a promising contributor to the region’s growing digital health landscape.
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