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Corruption in Albania - Perception and Experience

The Institute for Development Research and Alternatives recently published the results of their survey into corruption in Albania. According to their research the most honest institutions or groups in the country are the President, religious leaders and the military. The most corrupt are customs officials, tax officials, doctors, judges and parliamentarians.

One of the most surprising - to me - of the many findings from the survey was the extent of corruption in the health sector. Around 40% of those interviewed said that they had given bribes to medical staff in the previous year. That makes the health system the most corrupt public service insitution in the country.

More information on the survey can be found on the IDRA website and a summary of the many findings from the survey is also available there in English and Albanian.

Comments

Selfmaderadio said…
Smbody I know, working for an italian NGO, told me that she has seen terrible things hapening in Shkodra hospital. Doctors would not touch, anyone, even a little child about to die, if they didn't get money. Big shame!
9:53 am
ITS said…
I think corruption in Albania is a big plague that affects every sector.

The reason why the military isn't corrupt is because they haven't figured out away to make personal profits out of it.

Religious leaders are most definitely corrupt, with Janullatos doing the dirty work for the Greek shauvinism. And the muslim leaders for the most parts give me the heebie-jeebies. The catholic leaders, oh well, you know whose pawns those are.

The president I belive not to be corrupt. But he's just one old guy, so it doesn't count for much.

Anyway, they forgot to mention the bus attendants (faturinos) who will take the 20 leks without giving you a ticket. I think they are the root cause of corruption evil in Albania.

And what about the traffic cops who will whore themselves out for 500 leks? Very disgusting species. I will never pay a bribe to those suckers. I would much rather pay a fine ten-folds.
12:33 am
olli said…
ITS - So it looks like your mum and the President are the only two honest people left in the country.

I can only imagine the howls of outrage if I had written what you have!
11:57 am
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