Italian nursing sector wins digital health award amid alarming staff shortages
The National Federation of Nursing Orders (FNOPI) received the Special Health Prize at the 2026 Smartphone d’Oro competition for its “Infermieri per voi” platform, which connects citizens with freelance home‑care nurses and showcases digital innovation in Italy’s health system.
At the same time, a survey by the Nursind union of nearly 700 nurses in Piedmont revealed severe staffing deficits: 85.7% say shift staffing is unsafe, 59% cite chronic understaffing, and 69.5% report being reassigned to non‑nursing tasks. The poll showed high levels of professional dissatisfaction and concerns over patient safety, highlighting a stark contrast between the sector’s technological advances and ongoing workforce crises.