Italian unions and activists demand stronger public health system

On 3 July, the Alleanza Verdi Sinistra organized a public forum in Aprilia to discuss public‑health funding, outsourcing of services and labour protections. Speakers included deputy Franco Mari, CGIL regional secretary Giuseppe Massafra and representatives from Europa Verde Lazio and anti‑mafia groups. Attendees were invited to share testimonies and sign petitions supporting popular‑initiative bills aimed at bolstering workers’ rights and healthcare resources.

A week earlier, CGIL’s Rome Centre participated in a public assembly marking the 30 June anniversary of the closure of the Forlanini hospital in Monteverde. The union condemned the 11‑year‑old shutdown, linked to regional deficit‑reduction plans, and called for the site's reuse as a public‑health facility. CGIL promoted a petition supporting a proposed law to expand services, increase proximity care and reduce health‑care inequalities, citing the hospital’s historic role in tuberculosis treatment.

Both events illustrate coordinated efforts by Italian trade unions and civic groups to defend and revitalize the national health service through local activism, legislative proposals and public awareness campaigns.