Former Minister of Health Roberto Speranza has spoken out about the current state of public health in Italy, stating that “Four years into the pandemic, we are going backwards dramatically.” Speranza has pointed out that health spending as a percentage of GDP has fallen below 7% since the emergence from the emergency, with forecasts for next year indicating a further decrease to 6.2 – 6.3%.
This alarming trend has raised concerns among international institutions, as a 6% threshold is considered the tipping point for the collapse of a National Health Service. Speranza emphasized the importance of learning from the lessons that were hard-learned during the pandemic, stating that it is as if those lessons have been forgotten.
The former minister’s comments come as Italy continues to navigate the challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic and its impact on the country’s healthcare system. As the government grapples with budgetary constraints and competing priorities, the need to prioritize public health and ensure the sustainability of the National Health Service has become increasingly urgent.
Speranza’s warning serves as a stark reminder of the need for continued investment in public health infrastructure and resources to effectively respond to current and future health crises. It remains to be seen whether his concerns will prompt action from policymakers to address the growing challenges facing Italy’s healthcare system.