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Italy healthcare crisis: rising waiting lists and care renunciation
Italian regional healthcare systems are facing significant challenges regarding medical waiting lists and the increasing number of citizens renouncing care. In Calabria, data from the Gimbe Foundation indicates a decline in appointments completed within scheduled times, with specialist visits decreasing by 2.7 percentage points and diagnostic exams by 2.1 percentage points compared to 2025. Regional officials have raised concerns over €16 million in unused funds intended to reduce these waiting lists.
Other regions report similar struggles. In Abruzzo, approximately 160,000 citizens renounced medical care in 2024, a rate of 12.6% that exceeds the national average. In Marche, the renunciation rate has reached 12%, while Puglia sees over 10% of its population opting out of services.
In Sicily, a specific case involving a colonoscopy scheduled for 2029 prompted an investigation by the Agrigento Provincial Health Authority (ASP), which attributed the delay to a prescription lacking clinical priority indicators. Meanwhile, in Sardinia, the regional government is implementing recruitment incentives, including monthly allowances of up to €2,000 for doctors in disadvantaged areas, to combat staff shortages and improve service continuity.
Entities
ASP Agrigento · Agenas · Angelo Brutto · Calabria · Corte dei Conti · Fondazione GIMBE · Gimbe Foundation · Italy · Roberto Occhiuto · Sardinia
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Specialist visit appointments completed within scheduled times in Calabria decreased by 2.7 percentage points compared to 2025. www.informacalabria.it · www.zmedia.it
- [● 2 SOURCES] Diagnostic exam appointments completed within scheduled times in Calabria decreased by 2.1 percentage points compared to 2025. www.informacalabria.it · www.zmedia.it
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Approximately 160,000 people in Abruzzo renounced medical care in 2024. ameve.eu
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Sardinia is implementing a €2,000 monthly allowance for doctors in disadvantaged areas. www.unionesarda.it
- [○ 1 SOURCE] In Marche, 12% of citizens renounced medical visits and diagnostic exams in 2026. www.cronachefermane.it
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Over €16 million intended for reducing waiting lists in Calabria remained unused between 2022 and 2025. lanovitaonline.it
- [● 2 SOURCES] A colonoscopy in Agrigento was scheduled for July 2029 due to a lack of clinical priority indication. www.quilicata.it · livesicilia.it