Campania cardiologists demand regional action on long waiting lists and low fees

Cardiologists in the Campania region highlighted severe problems in cardiac care at a Federcardio assembly on 30 June in Torre del Greco. They reported waiting periods of more than two months for cardiology procedures and a specialist check‑up reimbursed at only €6.30, while budgets are insufficient to meet the needs of cardiac and oncologic patients.

The meeting, chaired by Federcardio president Leonardo Di Maggio and attended by representatives of Confesercenti Salute, the parliamentary Intergroup on “Sviluppo Sud, Aree Fragili e Isole Minori”, and other health officials, invited Campania President Roberto Fico and Health Minister Orazio Schillaci, both of whom were unable to attend. Cardiovascular disease remains Italy’s leading cause of death, with over 220,000 fatalities per year.

Participants called for a protocol of agreement with the regional government to prioritize urgent cardiac prescriptions, exempt certain services from budget limits, and raise tariff levels. They also pointed to regional disparities, such as in the Benevento area where emergency rooms operate only from 08:00 to 18:00, forcing patients to travel to Naples or Caserta after hours. The cardiologists urged the region to respond promptly to the proposal.