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The bilateral collaborative agreement (BCA) 2012–2013 between WHO/Europe and Albania is a framework for collaboration that establishes priorities for joint work in this two-year period. The document reflects the new vision of WHO/Europe as approved by the sixtieth session of the Regional Committee for Europe – Better Health for Europe, as well as the concepts, principles and values underpinning the development of WHO/Europe's new Country Strategy and the European Policy for Health – Health 2020.

The aim of the BCA is to impact health, i.e., to raise the level of health and reduce inequity in the distribution of health within the population.

The 2012-2013 priorities are as follows:

European health policy – Health 2020

Albania will try to sustain and make progress towards universal health coverage taking into consideration social determinants of health, inequities and vulnerable groups. Strengthened capacities of health policy-makers and a more qualified health workforce will support and put into practice such efforts. A new legal framework, especially the health care law, will be an important stepping stone to achieve these important goals.

Health systems strengthening and public health

Albania will improve its public health services by applying evidence-based public health policies, and strengthening national capacities on policy-making, formulation of regulatory frameworks, and management, by taking into consideration integrity of the functions of the  health system.

The implementation of the new health care law and public health law will be instrumental to achieving these objectives.

Noncommunicable diseases, health promotion and healthy lifestyles

Albania is expected to prevent and control noncommunicable diseases through more evidence-based actions. Efforts will be made for a better control of smoking. Alcohol abuse will be taken more seriously. More attention will be paid to cancer control. Regarding mental health, the country expects to strengthen the community mental health services through monitoring and evaluation, this also in view of its updated mental health strategy. A new challenge seems to be obesity. Despite good results of the recent year mother, child and adolescent health remains a priority and more is expected to be done concerning the nutritional aspect.

All these goals will be achieved through a series of means, tool and activities like assessments, guidelines, strategies, actions plans, policy dialogues, capacity building, and networks. The new public health law, implemented properly will be a great support. The European experience will be very useful.

Communicable diseases, health security and environment

Implementation of IHR remains a key issue under this priority, while an action plan is expected to be implemented. Antimicrobial resistance is a big challenge which the Ministry of Health has to face. The country will continue to keep HIV/AIDS prevalence low. Food–borne diseases, also in view of European Union accession, have increasingly attracted the attention of the Government. Climate change and health issues are expected to be tackled seriously, based also on the work done so far, while efforts are being made to revitalize the occupational health service almost forgotten for a long time now.

Health information, evidence, research and innovation

The country expects to improve its health information system, which is still fragmented. A better quality of data is expected, and possibly the use of ICD10 in order to formulate health policies and planning based on reliable evidence. An action plan already drafted with WHO support is expected to be implemented.