Suddenly, at the beginning of this year, the whole world entered in a dark tunnel. The global pandemic brought the economies of the world's most developed nations to their knees, killing more than 200,000 people and isolating hundreds of millions more.

The beginning of 2020 will be remembered in history as the confrontation of humanity with an undeclared world war. Not in vain in the vocabulary of the world's leading leaders, the term "war" is being used regularly to characterize coronavirus.

Albania could not be immune to this global situation. We also had our share of suffering, sacrifice, casualties and great economic damage, which will continue to be felt for many more years after the virus is defeated. The Albanian government formulated a clear strategy to limit pandemic damage, instructing the mass closure of schools, businesses and the population in their homes. This determined and tough tactic is bearing fruit. For weeks, the famous pandemic curve has stabilized, and on April 27, some small businesses and service units will begin to open.

Leaving the pandemic tunnel presupposes a more determined and long-term approach, as fortunately for us, even pandemic figures seem to allow us to be more flexible. As a representative of the medical tourism sector, I think now is the time to think, among other things, about the reopening of dental and medical clinics, as an opportunity for this type of tourism that does not know any season and that has a giant and safe market in places near us, breathe and come out of the impasse. Of course, guaranteeing 100% safety to patients and health professionals.

After the blow that our sector received, we now have to think about how to recover vigorously, instead of staying closed and thinking about how hopeless we are for the future. We need to get used to the idea that the virus will stay with us for a long time and we have to adapt to this new reality, instead of waiting for the Anti-Covid 19 vaccine for years.

The experiences of those who have gone through this emergency are our first point of reference. Security protocols, the new measures being taken in areas affected by pandemics, are an example to follow. By the way, we have to study Wuhan's protocols, in the dental and medical clinics of which interventions have been performed on many patients in recent days and there are zero cases of infection.

Let's go back to the market, to develop dental-medical tourism again, but with complete certainty. China has succeeded, many European countries are preparing new protocols for Covid Safe, now it is Albania's turn to work and return to normality.

For that reason, we think the government should set up a state structure to design strong protocols for all medical dental clinics.
Protocols include strong measures ranging from individual protective equipment (masks, disinfectants, other equipment), to resizing spaces or special isolation rooms in case the need arises.
These protocols must be unified and enforceable by all. In case of violations, state structures such as the State Health Inspectorate take immediate action against entities that do not comply with protocols from fines to revocation of license. Only in this way will we help medical tourism recover more strongly and more reliably for all, to regain the positions we had before this situation occurred.

These are important weeks to think about the guidelines that need to be followed in order to adapt to this new reality.

Bookings for the month of June have started at Gremi Clinic, taking cause and being hopeful that some airlines, as they have announced, will start their flights to Albania. The signals we are receiving these hours from abroad, show that patients have confidence in the clinic, our measures, have confidence to travel to Albania and have decided to adapt to this new normality. If dental clinics have been opened in China, as well as in Germany, Norway and Switzerland, why not find our way to reopen in connection with the need for periodic dental check-ups of patients and develop medical tourism as one of the sectors most important that helps the country's economy.
Dental tourism should not stand in the silence that the situation is imposing on it.

Developed countries started the normal activity we are still behind in terms of clear Anti-Covid 19 protocols for the entire medical chain.

At this point, Gremi Clinic is a reality that fulfills the entire cycle of services that are directly managed by the clinic, laboratory, accommodation structure, reception-transfer from the airport, bar, restaurants, not including third parties and guaranteeing complete security. Pursuant to this practice, we are ready that in full compliance with the protocol we are waiting for clients who every day ask if they will be able to make visits and check-ups in Albania.

In terms of human resources, Gremi Clinic has not sought state subsidies for their payments. None of the clinic's 95 employees have been fired. All measures have been taken to provide them with a minimum wage, with the belief that we will soon return to this new normality, daring and defending ourselves together, we will all succeed. Gremi Clinic has decided to "fight", ready to face this new normality, so it's time for us all to think about how to recover strong and safe.