The Minister of Health, Orazio Schillaci, recently sat down for an interview with The Print to discuss the issue of healthcare reform in Italy. In the interview, Schillaci warned that if the territorial healthcare reform is not fully implemented, the country will continue to see overcrowded emergency rooms, which is no longer sustainable.
Schillaci highlighted the budget law for 2024, which allocates 250 million euros to the Regions for 2025 and 350 million for 2026 to hire the necessary staff for community homes. He emphasized the need for family doctors to play a leading role in working in new structures with outpatient specialists and former medical guards. Schillaci stressed the importance of fully implementing the reform of community care in order to alleviate overcrowded emergency rooms.
The Minister also addressed the issue of differentiated autonomy and assured that there is no risk of splitting the country. He stated that differences in the supply of services are not dependent on resources or political affiliations, but rather on the efficiency of bureaucratic apparatus. Schillaci believes that the reform can provide an opportunity for less efficient regions to achieve objectives of equity and homogeneity of services nationwide.
In addition, Schillaci mentioned the Ministry of Health will continue to have a coordination, guidance, and control role and shared his objectives for 2024, which includes increasing medical and health specific allowance and eliminating spending limits for hiring staff. These interventions are aimed at strengthening the public service and reducing waiting lists.
Overall, the Minister of Health expressed confidence in the reforms being laid out, stating that while big changes aren’t made in a day, they have laid the foundations to reverse the trend. This interview sheds light on the current state of healthcare reform in Italy and the government’s efforts to improve the system for the benefit of all citizens.