mjekësi

Mjekësi, the Albanian term for medicine, refers to the science and practice of maintaining health, diagnosing and treating illness, preventing disease, and promoting well-being. It encompasses individual patient care as well as public health, and it integrates clinical work with laboratory research and epidemiology. The field relies on foundational sciences such as anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, genetics, and biostatistics, and it applies evidence-based methods to diagnose and treat disease.

Education and training in mjekësi typically involves a university medical degree followed by postgraduate training. Physicians, nurses, and other health professionals are licensed to practice after completing standardized examinations and continuing education. Training structures vary by country but commonly include preclinical studies, clinical rotations, residency or specialization programs, and ongoing professional development.

The scope of mjekësi includes many branches and specialties, such as internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, radiology, anesthesiology, and dermatology, among others. Research within the field spans basic science, translational studies, clinical trials, and public health investigations. Medical practice also encompasses preventive medicine, primary care, and health system stewardship to improve population health.

Ethical and regulatory dimensions are central, with emphasis on patient autonomy, informed consent, confidentiality, equity of access, safety, and the use of sound scientific evidence. The history of mjekësi traces the shift from traditional healing to a rigorous, scientifically based discipline, a development that advanced through medical education, professional organizations, and global health initiatives.