Free Check-Up in Albania: who is eligible and how it works

What changes from September 2026

On 30 July 2026, the Ministry of Health announced that, from September, the free Check-Up programme would be extended to citizens over 35, removing the upper age limit. The announcement states that the screening protocol remains unchanged.

The change was approved by Decision no. 628 of 30 July 2026, published in Official Gazette no. 171 on 5 August 2026. It replaces the age range of 35–70 with the wording over 35. The change extends eligibility beyond the age of 70; your health centre remains the point of contact for arranging your appointment.

Who is eligible and how often the check takes place

The decision establishing the programme ties eligibility to Albanian citizens permanently residing in the Republic of Albania. The Ministry has clarified that the check is also available to people who do not contribute to the health insurance scheme. Eligibility and registration should be verified with your family doctor.

The decision provides for an annual periodic check, with a schedule based on your birthday month. Your family doctor or the centre where you are registered will notify you when to attend. If you have not been notified or the month has passed, contact the centre to arrange your appointment; the decision does not state that you lose your entitlement if the check does not take place during your birthday month.

The first step: your family doctor and health centre

Contact your family doctor or the health centre serving the area where you live. Ask them to confirm whether you are eligible, where the Check-Up room is located and when you should attend. The 2026 contract provides for a dedicated space for the check and advance notification of the person attending.

Bring your identification document and the appointment notification, if one has been issued. Article 16 of the contract requires the nurse to check these documents. Also clarify in advance which sample collection materials and preparation instructions you will need. This article explains how to access the public programme through your health centre; it is not an offer of a free Check-Up at Anna Maria Lab.

What happens during the visit

The check includes questions about work, diet, smoking, alcohol, stress and depression. The package also provides for blood pressure and weight measurements and an assessment of heart activity. The official form also includes a section for an ECG. This information is used for risk assessment and advice.

The nurse verifies your details, obtains consent for the procedures and records the measurements and examinations. Samples are sent to the laboratory designated by the programme. Your family doctor reviews the interview and test results together to prepare the final assessment.

Which tests are included in the official package

Annex B/1, on page 39 of the 2026 family medicine contract, sets out the contents of the package. Blood testing includes a complete blood count (CBC) and the parameters Hb, haematocrit (HCT), MCV, MCH and MCHC.

It includes blood glucose, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as total and direct bilirubin, the transaminases ALT and AST (SGPT and SGOT), urea and creatinine.

Urine testing includes albuminuria and an assessment for the presence of cells, casts and crystals. The package also includes a faecal occult blood test, which checks for blood in the stool that may not be visible to the eye.

This is the list in the official annex, read alongside the July 2026 announcement that the protocol remains unchanged. HbA1c, thyroid tests, vitamin tests and urine culture do not appear on this list; they should not be presented as automatically included in the Check-Up package.

How to prepare for blood tests and sample collection

Ask for preparation instructions before the day of your visit. The official Check-Up guide specifies attending after fasting and allows water when preparing for the blood tests it describes. Confirm with the staff how many hours you should go without food and which instructions apply to you; the guide's chapters give different intervals depending on the examination.

Tell the staff which medicines and supplements you take. Do not stop or change them yourself in order to have the tests; ask for guidance, particularly if you are being treated for diabetes. If you have not followed the preparation instructions, tell the staff before your blood is taken.

For urine and stool samples, obtain the appropriate containers and instructions from the centre. The guide describes collecting a midstream urine sample after cleaning the area and collecting a stool sample at home using the materials provided. Clarify how to label and store the samples and when to deliver them; follow the staff's instructions for the container or kit you receive.

Where to get your results and who explains them

Ask the centre when the results are expected and how you will be notified. The 2026 contract makes the family doctor responsible for preparing the report with advice on further follow-up and entering it in the Si Je? system. Administrative deadlines for recording information in the system should not be read as a promise that test results will be ready within a specified number of hours.

ADISA has documented access to results through a personal e-Albania account under the service Kontrolli mjekësor bazë (Basic medical check-up). The Ministry still lists this electronic service on its page for citizens. If your report does not appear or is unclear, contact the centre that carried out the check. Downloading your test results and discussing them with your doctor are complementary steps.

What a result can and cannot tell you

A value outside the reference range is not a diagnosis in itself; a value within it does not necessarily explain every health concern. Your doctor considers the results alongside your medical history and examination. Read the units and reference ranges on the report you have received.

For example, a positive faecal occult blood test means that blood has been detected in the stool. On its own, it does not establish the cause and is not equivalent to a cancer diagnosis. Your doctor assesses whether further examinations are needed.

After the check: what to clarify with your doctor

The final report should connect the check with the next steps. Ask which findings matter for you, what advice you should follow and whether you need another check or a referral. Risk assessment and follow-up advice are defined responsibilities of the family doctor within the programme.

Having a Check-Up does not in itself create a need to buy additional tests. They should have a reason linked to your individual assessment. If you have health concerns, do not wait for your next routine check: the Ministry's public guidance also says that, in this situation, you should contact your family doctor in the usual way.

How the documents were used in this guide

The information was checked on 15 September 2026. The age criteria are based on Decision no. 628 and the Ministry's announcement of 30 July 2026. The package and responsibilities are based on the 2026 family medicine contract. Older materials are used to explain the programme's procedures; their previous age limits are not presented as current limits.

This is an informational publication by Anna Maria Journal. It does not represent the institutions administering the programme and does not confirm the opening hours or operation of any particular Check-Up room. Your health centre remains the practical source of information for arranging your visit.