Italian Regions Grapple with Hospital Cost Overruns and Budget Gaps

The Marche region’s plan to build a new hospital in Pesaro has seen the projected cost rise sharply from an estimated €204 million to €304 million, with similar overruns reported for a comparable project in Macerata and other ongoing hospital works such as Salesi, Fermo and the new Inrca. The regional audit court notes that funding sources remain unclear and that the region will have to cover the additional expenses, including equipment and staffing, from its own budget.

In Calabria, the regional accounts for 2025 show a primary balance of €2.2 billion and a positive available surplus of €307 million, an improvement of about €255 million over the previous year. The Court of Auditors points out that the bulk of this gain, roughly €214 million, stems from a change in national law that removed the requirement to set aside a liquidity anticipation fund, rather than from better fiscal management. The audit also highlights rising debts and residual liabilities in the region’s finances.