The Italian healthcare system is facing a looming crisis as a shortage of doctors is on the horizon due to poor planning and the upcoming wave of retirements. According to a recent report by Marzio Bartoloni and Eugenio Bruno, there is a risk of creating a surplus of doctors in the next decade, with potentially 60,000 more doctors than needed by the National Health Service.
The root of the problem lies in the past decisions made regarding admissions to medical schools, which have resulted in a bottleneck effect and limited the number of new doctors entering the workforce. Additionally, the peak of retirements in the healthcare sector is expected to hit in the coming years, causing an exodus of experienced doctors from the system.
To address the impending crisis, the government has been increasing the number of medical school places in recent years in an attempt to boost the number of new doctors entering the workforce. However, the effects of these decisions will not be seen until 2034, when the first wave of new doctors are expected to graduate and enter the job market.
The report also highlights the potential financial implications of training too many doctors, with each specialist costing the state over 200,000 euros to train. The excess of doctors could lead to underemployment and strain on the healthcare system’s resources.
As the healthcare sector grapples with this impending crisis, there are concerns about the attractiveness of working in hospitals, with low salaries cited as a major deterrent for young doctors. There are also worries that many newly trained doctors may choose to work abroad, further exacerbating the shortage in Italy.
The future of healthcare in Italy hangs in the balance as policymakers and healthcare professionals work to find a solution to the impending doctor shortage crisis.