Ministry of Health and Social Protection

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection is a department of the Albanian Government, charged with the responsibility to oversee the running of Albania's healthcare system, including supporting universal and affordable access to medical, pharmaceutical and hospital services, while helping people to stay healthy through health promotion.

History
In 1914 Prince William of Wied built a new structure, entrusting the then Minister of Health Mihal Turtulli. In 1920 with the government of the Lushnja Congress, was established the structure of the General Directorate of Health (DPSH), which functioned as such until 1944.

The Ministry of Health was founded in 1944 when DPSH became a Ministry. The Ministry had its structure with 21 employees and 175 Albanian and foreign doctors practicing the activity throughout the country.

Since the establishment of the institution, the Ministry of Health has been reorganized by joining other departments or merging with other ministries, thus resulting in its name changing several times. This list reflects the changes made in years in pluralist history since 1992 as an institution:


 * Ministry of Health and Environment () from 1992 to 1998
 * Ministry of Health  from 1998 to 2017
 * Ministry of Health and Social Protection () from 2017 - current

Subordinate institutions
The ministry owns and manages all the public hospitals in Albania
 * Albanian Health Insurance Institute
 * Public Health Institute
 * National Center for Blood Transfusion
 * National Center for the Development and Rehabilitation of Children
 * Dental Clinic for Undergraduates
 * Medical Helicopter Transportation Unit
 * National Center for Medicine and Medical Equipment
 * Electro Medical Provider
 * National Center for Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Health Institutions
 * National Center of Education in Continuity