The regional health department in Sicily has issued a note to all healthcare companies, putting a halt to competitions for hiring both permanent and fixed-term employees. The only exception to this directive is for procedures for which the examining commission has already been established. The note also indicated that hiring staff, with the exception of medical managers, should also be stopped.
The reason for this decision is linked to the imminent expiry of the commissioner regime in which healthcare companies in the region currently find themselves. The extension of managers transformed into extraordinary commissioners is pending the appointment of new top management.
The President of the Region aims to appoint new leaders for the healthcare companies by the end of January. However, tensions within the political landscape are making the process difficult, with disagreements between various parties delaying the appointment process.
The stakes are high, as there are 235 million euros from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Pnrr) at play, earmarked for transforming the island’s healthcare system. This funding has brought smaller companies into focus, as they are now the recipients of the largest part of the Pnrr funding.
The ongoing appointments also have implications for the regional health department and potential reshuffling within the council. The decisions being made will have a significant impact on the future of healthcare management in Sicily.
In light of these developments, all hiring processes are currently blocked, with the exception of urgent services that risk stopping without additional staff. Any hiring exceptions must be approved in advance by the department. The situation is expected to remain in place until the appointment of new management is finalized.