Replacing Evis Sala: Who is Klodiana Spahiu, the new health minister

Klodiana Spahiu has been appointed the new health minister, replacing Evis Sala, who resigned from the post one day earlier. Spahiu was born on May 22, 1973, in Durrës.

She graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Tirana, specializing in General Medicine, in 1997. From 1998 to 2002, she specialized in cardiology at the “Mother Teresa” University Hospital Center in Tirana.

During her professional career, Spahiu completed several specializations in non-invasive cardiology, including echocardiography, PU-ECG and carotid Doppler ultrasound, at the Catholic University “Sacro Cuore,” Faculty of Medicine and Surgery “Agostino Gemelli,” in Rome.

In 2003-2004, she pursued postgraduate studies at the Faculty of Medicine, while in 2005 she specialized in invasive cardiology, cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography at “Santa Chiara” Hospital in Pisa, Italy.

From 2012 to 2014, she completed a professional master’s degree in Health Management.

Spahiu worked as a doctor at the First Cardiology Clinic at the University Hospital Center and, from 2003 to 2009, worked as a cardiologist and in the pathology department at Durrës Hospital. She was later appointed director of the hospital.

At the same time, she was also involved in academia. From 2002 to 2003, she was a lecturer in the Department of Preclinical Subjects at the University of Tirana, while in 2006 she was an external physiology lecturer at the private “UFO” University in Tirana.

Since 2008, she has been a lecturer in cardiology practical training at the “Our Lady of Good Counsel” University in Tirana. She also holds the title of “Doctor of Medical Sciences.”

In politics, Klodiana Spahiu has been a member of the Albanian Parliament since 2009.

During her years of parliamentary activity, she has served on several parliamentary committees and subcommittees, and has chaired or been a member of friendship groups. She has also served as deputy speaker of Parliament.