Italian regional healthcare faces procurement and waiting list challenges

Regional healthcare systems in Italy are facing scrutiny over procurement irregularities and long waiting lists. In Calabria, the TAR Calabria annulled a 37 million euro contract for cleaning and sanitization services for the ASP di Cosenza. The court cited a lack of adequate investigation regarding the economic sustainability of the bid, particularly concerning labor costs. The winning group, led by Team Service, had factored in a 3% increase in labor costs, which failed to account for a 16.6% increase in national collective bargaining agreements. Calabria Vice President Giuseppe Ranuccio criticized the situation, noting the contrast between strict oversight of individual medical prescriptions and the handling of large-scale public contracts.

In Puglia, Governor Antonio Decaro addressed the ongoing issue of healthcare waiting lists, which in some cases extend into 2027 and 2028. Following an initial phase that recovered over 157,000 services, the region is launching a more structured second phase. New measures include requiring local health authorities to present specific plans by September 14, implementing direct scheduling for chronic and oncology patients to bypass the CUP system, and increasing the use of community houses for exams. Additionally, operating rooms will be utilized for up to 12 hours a day to reduce surgical wait times.