Italy healthcare updates: robotic surgery milestones and new support protocols

Various regional healthcare and social developments are occurring across Italy. In Sassari, the Aou di Sassari surgical team has completed 250 robotic procedures since February 2022, including 169 for colorectal cancer. The team is among the first in Europe to utilize the Da Vinci Single Port platform, which allows for minimally invasive surgery through a single small incision or via the anal orifice.

In the Naples area, the San Giuliano Hospital in Giugliano has activated the ‘Percorso rosa’ (Pink Path) for the first time. This protocol by Asl Napoli 2 Nord provides coordinated medical, legal, social, and psychological support for women victims of violence. The first case involved a woman treated for multiple traumas.

Other reports highlight staffing and infrastructure concerns. In Piedmont, hospital physician numbers have decreased by 3.4% since 2015. In the Amalfi Coast, medical staffing shortages have created risks in emergency departments. Meanwhile, in Liguria, 37.8 million euros have been allocated to reinforce the Roja water pipeline to ensure supply security. Additionally, civil service volunteers are being deployed in Grosseto and Savigliano to support fire services and emergency room reception.