Italian regional health system shows north‑south divide as LEA 2024 data expose gaps

The 2024 monitoring of the Livelli Essenziali di Assistenza (LEA) released by the Ministry of Health highlights persistent north‑south disparities in Italy’s public health system. According to the Anaao Assomed union, the data reveal improvements in prevention and district care overall, but a “lieve flessione” in hospital performance and stark regional gaps. Pierino Di Silverio noted that “una regione può avere un’assistenza ospedaliera eccellente e risultare comunque inadempiente per una sola area sotto soglia.”

Regional breakdown shows Veneto (288 points), Emilia‑Romagna (282) and Tuscany (280) leading the national ranking, while Sicily and the autonomous province of Bolzano fall below the threshold in prevention, and Calabria scores only 52 points in the district area, the only region below the minimum. The unions CGIL Calabria and FIALS Foggia warned that the figures “certificano, nero su bianco, il fallimento” of regional management and criticized regional plans that restrict hiring and fund allocation, risking the collapse of hospitals such as Policlinico Riuniti Foggia.

Anaao Assomed calls for extraordinary hiring programmes, additional targeted funding, uniform regional data systems, and infra‑annual monitoring to address the “divario Nord‑Sud” and prevent the health system from further fragmenting.