In a recent report on public utility services, Istat has revealed that one in two Italian families, 50.8%, is facing difficulty reaching the emergency room. This marks an increase of 1.6 percentage points compared to the previous year.
The study shows that the highest percentages of families struggling to access emergency services are found in the South of Italy, with numbers around seven points higher than the national average. The Islands and the Centre regions also report significant difficulties at 52.7% and 52.4% respectively. In over 11 regions, the percentage of families facing obstacles in reaching emergency services exceeds the national average, with Campania leading at 63.5%, followed by Calabria, Liguria, and Puglia.
The report also highlights that the size of the municipalities plays a significant role in the difficulties faced by families, as it is linked to the availability of emergency room services in the area. While the percentage is 43.8% in central metropolitan municipalities, it rises to 68.6% in very small municipalities with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants.
Additionally, access to local health authorities is another area of concern, with just under 40% of people aged 18 and over visiting these facilities in 2023. The numbers vary across regions, with the Center and North-East reporting higher values around 44%, while the Islands lag behind at 33.3%. The report also notes that waiting times at local health authorities are a major issue, with 49.8% of users nationwide reporting waiting queues lasting more than 20 minutes. This frequency is highest in the South and the Islands, with regions like Sicily, Molise, and Calabria exceeding 67% of users facing long wait times.
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