UDINE. They militate in the trenches of a battle, that for health, which is fought on the territory, but proceed in reduced ranks with increasingly conspicuous shortcomings. They are family doctors, less and less widespread in the area: 343 those committed to guaranteeing the general medicine service for continuity of care as at 31 December last year.
Too few compared to the needs of the territory, so much so that the Central Friuli University Health Authority has published a decree that identifies 44 areas lacking for primary care. Finding them right now is anything but easy.
«The Region has issued a notice – informs the vice president, with responsibility for Health Riccardo Riccardi – not an easy task given the scarcity of professionals available in the area and strongly conditioned by the rules included in the collective agreement. It is an effort that all healthcare companies are making, we are trying to reduce the time needed to fill the gaps, if possible, before autumn ».
Going into detail, there are 8 deficient areas identified in the territorial area composed of the municipality of Udine, two in that of Pasian di Prato, one between Pagnacco and Tavagnacco, one between Cividale Moimacco Prepotto and Torreano, one in Manzano, as well as between Attimis , Faedis and Povoletto, between Cassacco Tricesimo and Reana and between Tarcento, Lusevera, magnano, Nimis and Taipana and two in the Natisone valleys. Another 17 deficient areas have been identified in the Alto Friuli area and 9 in the Lower area.
“We are working to identify the necessary professionals – announces the general director of AsuFc through the regional announcement but it is essential that all the trade union forces take an active part by participating in the tables to solve the shortcomings, also with regard to the doctors of continuity of care we will have to revisit the areas otherwise we will not be able to ensure the necessary services ».
At the moment, a front in which the company management is engaged is the drafting of the Corporate Problem Deed on the basis of which the structure of a healthcare company that must evolve can be defined. The commitment to the vaccination campaign remains, which also catalyzes human resources and means. “To push on vaccinations and ensure greater levels of coverage in these days we are sending awareness letters to all over 60s in the region who have not yet been vaccinated,” adds Riccardi.
And if anti-Covid vaccinations increase with the recall of awareness campaigns and the green pass, the results achieved in terms of vaccination coverage remain significantly below the standards. The coverage for the basic cycle in infants at 24 months, as well as that for diphtheria-tetanus, and antipolio, fell to 92.7% for Antihepatitis B, for which the standard target is 95%. Influenza vaccination in the elderly is also below the standard target (67.2% compared to a standard of 70%).
An operation articulated on the territory of the Central Friuli University Health Authority which, with its 4,904.9 square kilometers, represents 63% of the regional territory.
Nine are the territorial health districts in which 134 municipalities are grouped with a catchment area of 507,512 patients. Birth rates at the lowest terms, minors from zero to 13 years are 52,471, compared to 67,627 residents who fall into the age range 65-74 and 71,824 over 74 years old. From this point of view, the volumes of activities in the area are necessarily substantial, starting from the Rsa, eight directly managed ones that 244 beds in 2019, which fell to 197 last year due to the conversion of part of the Gemona structure to Rsc Covid. .
The two RSAs in agreement with another 93 beds and the three hospices with 19 beds, which went from 387 admissions in 2019 to 416 in 2020, should also be considered.
Due to the Covid emergency, the activity of mental health centers also decreased, from 7,033 users in charge to 6,783 in one year, while the Addiction Department, despite the emergency, continued its service activity of 3,237 users, of which 1,513 for drug addiction problems, 1,145 for alcoholism, 382 for smoking and 197 for behavioral disorders.