Calabria healthcare faces dialysis center reorganization and staff shortages

Healthcare officials and representatives in Calabria are raising alarms regarding medical staffing shortages and the reorganization of dialysis services. Regional Councilor Rosellina Madeo has requested a hearing with Pasquale Scaramuzzo, the national coordinator of the National Association of Hemodialysis patients (Aned), following concerns over the conversion of dialysis centers.

Madeo argues that transforming specialized dialysis centers (Cad) into outpatient clinics without nephrologists (Cal) threatens patient care, particularly in disadvantaged areas far from hospitals. She noted that difficulties in recruiting specialists in Calabria are linked to inadequate compensation and career advancement obstacles.

Separately, Angelo Brutto, President of the Regional Health Commission, addressed the broader crisis of healthcare personnel. Commenting on European guidelines aimed at increasing the healthcare workforce, Brutto emphasized that ensuring the right to health requires addressing working conditions, stress, and workloads to prevent the flight of doctors and nurses from the region.