On Thursday, the U.S. Government donated a CT scanner to Durrës Regional Hospital in Albania. The donation was made by Chargé d’Affaires Nancy VanHorn and Lieutenant Colonel Josh Magnusson from the Office of Defense Cooperation during a ceremony attended by Albania’s Minister of Health, Albana Koçiu. The new equipment is valued at $450,000 and aims to improve diagnostic capabilities for approximately 20,000 patients annually.
The donation was initiated by the U.S. European Command’s Office of Defense Cooperation Humanitarian Assistance Program in 2022 after discussions with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection regarding the hospital's need for additional diagnostic tools. Installation and staff training were completed this month. This initiative reflects the broader scope of NATO Alliance cooperation beyond defense.
Since 1999, over $14 million has been provided by the U.S. Department of Defense to support health, education, and disaster preparedness efforts in Albania.