Health Minister Roberto Speranza, in certain regions and for certain specialties the waiting lists are very long. Will you intervene?
“It is a problem that comes from afar and has been further complicated by Covid. We have already sent one billion euros, in two installments, to the Regions to address it and we expect to see the results soon. The expected question is linked to the number of doctors more than equipment. On personnel, we have launched an operation that has never been seen before “.
What have you done?
“In our country, an average of 5 or 6 thousand medical specialization grants were financed a year. Thus the number of new doctors ready to join the system was always lower than that of those who retired or otherwise left. In the last two years we first financed 13,400 grants and then 17,400. There was a training funnel, now it no longer exists “.
Those doctors will be available after 4-5 years of specialization. The expectations, even over 250 days for a visit or an examination in certain cities, as our survey revealed, are now there.
“But doctors are not bought on the international market, like coats or respirators. Either you trained them with a multi-year program or you don’t have them. In the last two years, we have finally invested properly. For the immediate future, one billion euros in addition, it will serve to recover with extraordinary interventions “.
Does the health system have enough funds available?
“When I became minister in September 2019, the national health fund was at 114 billion euros and was increasing on average by less than one billion a year. Now, after two and a half years, we have reached 124 billion, 10 more. . Never in the history of the NHS has there been such an important growth in resources in such a short time frame. “
So what is done is enough?
“There has been too long a season of defining health care and the resources need to be increased again. We have the commitment to raise the fund to 128 billion in two years, but I want to work to make this figure grow further. Then I am to overcome the expenditure ceilings that the Regions have, starting with that for personnel “.
Regions are asking for more money to fight Covid.
“We have already put a lot of resources out of the National Health Fund for the pandemic. We still need them and we will find them. They have been difficult years and we will have other expenses, for example for vaccines. But it is not acceptable that the debate does not take into account a fact: so much money on health care has never been put “.
Does it also refer to the PNRR?
“Yes, they are added to the increase in the fund. 20 billion will arrive thanks to the PNRR. Then there are 625 million that, for the first time, European programming reserves for the” Pon “health, for disadvantaged areas. That money goes to the South and will be needed also to recover the skipped oncological screenings “.
The emergency rooms are in crisis, the doctors are leaving for stress. Will more specializations be enough?
“Without a doubt, the work in the emergency is often exhausting. We have taken a first step by allocating 90 million and establishing a new specific allowance for those who work in the emergency room. They are primary resources, we will try to find others but it is a signal: let’s say to the workers that we are aware of their difficulties. Then the NRR will play a fundamental role “.
What does the PNRR have to do with first aid?
“About 7 billion will go to local assistance, strengthening the network that screens the emergency room, because it takes care of patients before they end up in hospital. The Plan foresees 1,350 community homes, where family doctors, specialists, nurses will work. “.
Healthcare suffers from large differences between regions. How can we avoid that the use of NRP funds is also unbalanced?
“By June 30 we will sign an institutional development contract, CIS, with each region. The funding will be linked to the achievement of certain results. There will be a high level of monitoring of the territories. The goal is a more homogeneous national health care”.
How many Covid vaccines will we buy for the fall?
“Still 13.4% of the European total. The commitment now is to have updated vaccines. The health authorities will tell us how to proceed and we will decide whether to offer the new vaccine to everyone or only to certain groups”.
Many do not take the fourth dose, thinking that they will get another booster in the fall.
“I appeal to the frail not to wait for October. The data tells us that the second booster raises the level of protection. It can save the lives of many. The categories are known: immunocompromised, over 80, guests of the RSA, and frail in the 60s. and 79 years “.