Oncology project, 350 women per year will receive free breast implants by 2026

2025-07-11 07:23:00, Aktualitet CNA

After many years of requests from patients diagnosed with cancer, for the first time, the state oncology hospital is providing funding for breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy (breast removal).

This new program of the Ministry of Health will cover free breast implant placement for 350 women per year, for the years 2026-2028.

Data on the provision and financing of the bay reconstruction service have been made public in the "Draft document of the medium-term budget program for the period 2026-2028".

"For the first time, a product dedicated to women suffering from breast cancer is envisaged. Breast reconstruction treatment for these women shows not only special attention to them, but also creates the opportunity to have a normal life in the future," the document states.

To date, this type of service has never been offered in a public oncology hospital, despite the request of women who had undergone breast removal surgeries, while the cost of implant placement in private hospitals remains unaffordable for many patients.

In private clinics or hospitals in the country, this intervention costs 5,000 to 8,000 euros. The Ministry of Health estimates that the costs for 1 patient are 200,000 lek or about 2,000 euros.

The funding of the free intervention program at the public hospital is expected to benefit 350 women per year, during the years 2026-2028, at an average cost of 70 million lek per year.

The fund for the cost of service treatment will be covered by the state budget.

The financing model for this intervention follows international practices in several countries. In the United States, since 1998, the law known as the “Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act” obliges insurance companies to cover reconstructive interventions after breast removal due to cancer. The cost of covering the service varies by country.

Why is breast prosthesis surgery missing in public hospitals?

To date, this service has never been offered in the public system, due to high costs and lack of funds. In private hospitals or clinics in the country, such an intervention costs between 7,000 and 8,000 euros, making it unaffordable for most affected women.

The head of the oncology service at the Mother Teresa University Hospital Center, Dr. Silvana Çeliku, previously told Monitor that the public hospital was unable to include this service due to its focus on basic treatments and the high cost of the intervention. “In some cases, this intervention is also considered cosmetic. The most important thing is to ensure coverage with basic treatments for patients,” she said.

According to Çeliku, the best way to avoid such interventions is early detection of the disease. "It is very necessary for every woman to have a breast ultrasound at least once a year, to prevent aggravation and save the breast," she emphasized./ Monitor Magazine