A visit by the health minister to the Radiotherapy Unit at QSUT was used to spotlight a medical success story and, at the same time, promote government investments in oncology. According to the official version, a 10-year-old diagnosed with stage IV Hodgkin lymphoma has successfully completed the consolidation radiotherapy phase.
The case presented by the ministry
During the visit, Evis Sala was introduced to the story of Arsi, 10, who is being treated at QSUT after being diagnosed with stage IV Hodgkin lymphoma. The ministry presented the case as a concrete example of the effectiveness of combined treatment in the public service.
The essence of the official statement was that the child successfully completed the consolidation radiotherapy phase. No further medical details or the full duration of the treatment were provided.
What the minister said about the equipment
According to the minister, the treatment was carried out with the third linear accelerator, which has been in operation since May 2026. She said there are currently three functional accelerators and that a fourth, as well as brachytherapy, are expected to be added.
In practice, this means increased radiotherapy capacity, but it remains to be seen when this equipment will be fully operational and how much it will actually reduce the burden on patients.
Institutions speak of full operation
Evis Sala used the case to declare that the National Tumor Institute “is functioning,” emphasizing coordination among pediatric oncohematology, imaging, radiotherapy and support services.
Parts of the official statement presented this as an integrated and multidisciplinary approach in line with contemporary standards. However, the public visit was not accompanied by broader data on waiting lists, patient flow or other measurable service performance indicators.
Promise of access in the regions as well
The minister also spoke about expanding access to oncology treatment through chemotherapy points in regional hospitals. According to her, this reform aims to bring services closer to patients and reduce the need to travel to Tirana.
These points remain linked to institutional promises, while their real effect depends on staffing, equipment and the sustainable operation of these units on the ground.
The case of the 10-year-old was presented by the Ministry of Health as evidence of investments in technology and cooperation among medical teams at QSUT.
Beyond the government’s optimistic message, attention remains on the day-to-day functioning of public oncology services and on how these investments translate into real access for patients.