Health Minister Orazio Schillaci Speaks on New Specialist Tariffs and National Health Service
On February 21, during the sixth edition of the ‘Inventing for Life Health Summit’ event, Health Minister Orazio Schillaci discussed a number of important topics related to the healthcare system in Italy. Among the issues addressed, the upcoming tariff changes for outpatient specialists set to take effect on April 1 have been a subject of controversy.
The Minister acknowledged the concerns raised by many associations over the new tariff structure, which is slated to reduce several tariffs. He emphasized that there are funds available, particularly from next year, to introduce benefits and increase reimbursement for certain limited services. Schillaci underlined the importance of working with the regions and all stakeholders to find shared solutions in the best interest of patients.
Additionally, the Minister stressed the need for improved personnel policies, including a focus on medical-specific allowances and the abolition of the employment spending cap. He expressed a strong commitment to making the National Health Service more attractive for medical and nursing professionals, with the aim of addressing staff shortages and token operators.
In response to the heightened alert level for Dengue, Schillaci assured the public that the situation in Italy is under control, despite the high number of cases recorded in South America. He also addressed the global concern over the risk of new pandemics, emphasizing the importance of lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic and the readiness of Italy’s healthcare system.
Schillaci concluded by reiterating the government’s efforts to address various pressing healthcare issues, including waiting lists, prevention, oncological diseases, and screenings. He expressed hope for a period of relative calm in the healthcare sector, with a focus on improving the overall quality of healthcare and providing solutions for citizens.
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Source: Quotidianosanità.it, Online newspaper of health information.