Pensions Do Not Cover Living Costs in Cërrik, Elderly Struggle With Medicines, Food and Bills

Elderly people in Cërrik say their pension income is insufficient to pay for medicines, food and household bills.

Because monthly expenses exceed their income, some pensioners say there are times when they cannot even afford to buy their medicines.

For many elderly people in Peqin, their pension runs out before the month is over. Almost all the money is spent on medicines, food and household expenses, leaving virtually nothing for other needs. One pensioner, who receives 93,000 lek, says she spends around 50,000 lek a month on medicines alone. She says that when costs rise, she is forced to go without some of her medication.

“My pension is 93,000 lek, while I need 50,000 lek for medicines. I cannot afford any other expenses. Without our children’s help, we would have died; we would have been finished. Life is very difficult. Prices here are very high, even higher than in Tirana. Sometimes we do not get our medicines because we cannot afford them, and we are afraid,” the woman said.

Other pensioners describe the same situation. They say that prices are out of proportion to pension levels and that their monthly income covers only their most essential needs.

One pensioner said everything is expensive and that wherever you go, you encounter high prices. Asked whether prices were proportionate to pensions, he replied: “Absolutely not.” According to him, the reasons are linked to the policies pursued by the state.

When the journalist asked how a pensioner manages to meet all these obligations, he replied that the difficulties are numerous and the situation is unmanageable. According to him, the pension is immediately spent on medicines, rent, electricity, water and other bills, which it cannot cover. He receives 174,000 lek but stresses that this amount is not enough. “With 174,000 lek, you have to buy medicines, this and that, and get through an entire month. It cannot be done. Medicines and food remain the main priorities,” the pensioner said.

Most of the pension is spent on medicines, food, electricity and water. In some families, help from their children remains the only way to make it through the month.

Another pensioner described life as very difficult but said his children live abroad and that his wife receives a somewhat better pension because she worked as a teacher and principal. He himself was a tailor and receives 157,000 lek. According to him, this income is not enough, especially to cover his and his wife’s hospital expenses. He said that despite claims to the contrary on television, hospitals will not even lay a hand on you without money. The pensioner added that operations cost between 2.5 million and 3 million lek, sums they cannot afford.

The pensioners interviewed by Euronews Albania say they feel the rising cost of living through the difficult decisions they must make each month: whether to buy medicines, pay their bills or cut back even on basic food. According to them, while pension amounts remain unchanged, expenses continue to rise.