Ida Ismail
As Albania continues to promote its coast, nature and record growth in the number of tourists, sanitary inspections carried out during 2025 show a less visible reality. Behind the image of a developing destination, the State Health Inspectorate's inspections identified problems ranging from the lack of basic hygiene and sanitary documentation to cases of microbiological contamination in drinking water supply systems.
The challenges are not only related to isolated cases or specific entities, but to a broader problem of respecting sanitary standards and control mechanisms in various sectors of public and private Services.
The problems are not limited to tourism.
During 2025, the State Health Inspectorate carried out a total of 12.896 sanitary inspections and re-inspections throughout the country. The inspections included educational institutions, dormitories, canteens, tourist entities, drinking water supply systems, residential institutions for the elderly and children, occupational health care enterprises, institutions for the execution of criminal decisions, pharmacies and aesthetic service entities.
The purpose of the inspections was to verify hygiene and sanitary conditions, drinking water quality, occupational safety and compliance with health legislation.
Although the sectors inspected are diverse, the report highlights a recurring problem in almost all categories: the lack or incompleteness of hygiene-sanitary and health documentation. In many cases, entities were found to be without the necessary analyses, monitoring records, updated certifications or basic documentation that serves to guarantee the safety of the Services they provide.
In educational institutions alone, 3.892 inspections and re-inspections were carried out. Inspectors found deterioration of buildings, dampness, problems in sanitary annexes, lack of running water and hot water supply, as well as deficiencies in health documentation. For these violations, four fines, three decisions for temporary closure and 337 warnings were imposed.
Tourism under pressure from standards
Of all the areas inspected, the tourism sector remains one of the most critical due to the high number of users and the direct impact on public health and the country's image.
During 2025, the ISHSH carried out 4.639 inspections and re-inspections in tourist entities. A significant part of the problems are related to the lack of basic control and monitoring mechanisms. Inspectors found a lack of hygiene and sanitary approvals, a lack of drinking water tests, a lack of health documentation for employees, a lack of disinfection, disinfestation and deratization certificates, as well as environments that did not meet basic maintenance standards.
Swimming pools were often the most problematic. In many cases, water analysis reports, quality monitoring records, hygiene and sanitary approvals and documentation on the use of disinfectants were missing. Inspectors also noted a lack of responsible personnel for the management of swimming pools, reducing the ability to identify and prevent health risks for holidaymakers.
Drinking water, a problem that has persisted for years
Even more worrying is the panorama evident in drinking water supply systems.
During 2025, the ISSSH carried out 1.548 inspections and re-inspections of water supply systems, storage facilities and water reservoirs. The inspections found in many cases a lack of periodic physico-chemical and bacteriological analyses of water quality, one of the basic instruments for guaranteeing the security of supply.
A lack of hygiene and sanitary approvals, lack or damage to protective fences of water storage facilities, and non-renewal of mandatory certificates for disinfection and sanitary control were also found. The fieldwork identified dilapidated storage facilities and reservoirs, damp and moldy facilities, lack of water chlorination records, and cases where the infrastructure was not maintained with basic security measures, including the lack of guards or constant monitoring.
The report also highlights cases of non-compliance with sanitary safety zones around water sources and storage facilities, a factor that significantly increases the risk of contamination.
However, the most serious alarm is related to cases where microbiological analyses have resulted positive for contamination of drinking water. According to data reported by the Local Health Care Units, in some supply systems indicators of microbiological contamination have been found that may pose a risk to the health of consumers. The presence of microbiological contamination in drinking water is considered one of the most serious public health problems, as it is directly related to the risk of disease spread and the daily exposure of citizens to potentially harmful factors.
A question of the reliability of standards
The State Health Inspectorate announces that during the inspections, fines, warnings and corrective measures were imposed on entities that did not meet legal requirements.
However, the very nature of the problems identified raises a broader question. When, at the height of the tourist season, swimming pools without documented water quality monitoring, a lack of basic safety procedures, and drinking water supply systems resulting in cases of microbiological contamination are identified, the concern is not only related to formal compliance with the law.
Questions are raised over the ability of institutions and operators to guarantee consistent safety standards in a country that is increasingly supporting economic development in tourism.
While this year's tourist season has started with high expectations for the number of visitors and as Albania aims to attract an ever-increasing number of tourists and consolidate its image as a Mediterranean destination, water quality, sanitary safety and compliance with standards are not simply administrative requirements.acqj.al
