The Lombardy Region’s Controversial Trip to South America to Recruit Nurses
The debate continues to swirl around the recent trip to South America by Guido Bertolaso, the Welfare Councilor of the Lombardy Region. Bertolaso flew to Argentina and Paraguay with the aim of recruiting nurses to help alleviate the shortage of healthcare personnel in the region.
President of the Lombardy Region, Attilio Fontana, defended the trip as a “transitional solution” to counter the shortage of healthcare personnel that has resulted from poor planning over the years. He emphasized the need to increase the number of degrees in Medicine and Nursing in the region, but in the meantime, recruiting nurses from countries with similar training schools and language was seen as a viable option.
However, not everyone is on board with this approach. The nurses’ union, Nursing Up, criticized Bertolaso for his “triumphalistic” announcement and described the decision as “hardly comprehensible.” The Democratic Party also condemned Governor Fontana for the “paradoxical” choice of importing nurses from abroad.
Antonio De Palma, national president of Nursing Up, expressed concern that importing nurses from abroad is not a long-term solution to the healthcare personnel shortage. He stressed the importance of valuing and investing in Italian nurses to rebuild the healthcare system.
Pierfrancesco Majorino, leader of the Democratic Party, echoed these sentiments, stating that instead of importing nurses, efforts should be made to retain and incentivize Italian healthcare professionals.
The debate on the recruitment of nurses from abroad continues to divide opinions in Lombardy. While some see it as a necessary solution to address the current shortage, others believe that investing in and valuing local healthcare professionals should be the priority.
You can read the full article on ANSA.it for more insights and opinions on this controversial issue.