Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza reconfirmed as scientific research institute

The Italian Ministry of Health has officially reconfirmed the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza hospital in San Giovanni Rotondo as an Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Scientific Care (IRCCS). The decree, signed by Health Minister Orazio Schillaci and published in the Official Gazette on September 19, 2026, validates the institution's scientific status in the specialized fields of diagnostics, neurology, and oncology.

The decision followed a comprehensive evaluation by a ministerial commission. After a site visit in January 2025, the commission reviewed the hospital's financial records, healthcare excellence, scientific production, laboratories, and training programs. The evaluation also considered the new organizational structure of the research area, which includes sectors for research valorization, preclinical and translational research, and clinical research.

Scientific Director Ornella Parolini stated that the reconfirmation demonstrates the continuity of the path established with the Ministry of Health 35 years ago when the institution first received recognition.