Hormone therapy for transgender people. QSUT will offer hormonal treatment for the first time
2026-05-29 08:59:16
TiranaPost
The Ministry of Health has approved a new directive that, for the first time, paves the way for the provision of hormone therapy for transgender people in the public healthcare system in Albania. The service will be provided at the “Mother Teresa” University Hospital Center in Tirana and the costs will be covered by public funds.
The document defines the medical procedures and criteria that must be followed for each patient, as well as the monitoring method throughout the treatment process. The aim of this guideline is to ensure that therapy is carried out under specialized medical supervision, avoiding uncontrolled treatments or informal practices that have been used so far.
According to the new rules, hormone therapy can be applied to both adults and adolescents over 16 years of age, but only after evaluation by specialist doctors and with the approval of the family. In special cases, after a detailed analysis by the medical team, treatment can also be considered for people over 14 years of age.
The guideline emphasizes that initiating therapy requires a careful process of psychological and emotional assessment, as well as verification of the patient's ability to understand the effects and long-term consequences of treatment.
Therapy will be tailored to specific cases: testosterone will be used for female-to-male transgender people, while estrogen and anti-androgens will be used for male-to-female people.
To date, many transgender people in Albania have been forced to seek treatment abroad or through unofficial channels within the country, facing high costs and a lack of proper medical supervision.
