Italy and Switzerland dispute 1.6 million euro medical bill

Italy and Switzerland remain in a dispute regarding approximately 1.5 million Swiss francs (roughly 1.6 million euros) in medical costs for 12 Italian citizens injured during the New Year's Eve fire at Le Constellation in Crans-Montana. The fire, which resulted in 41 deaths including six young Italians, left several individuals with severe burns requiring intensive care in Swiss hospitals.

While European agreements generally dictate that medical costs for residents receiving treatment abroad should be covered by their home country, the Italian government has stated it will not bear these specific expenses. The impasse has caused significant tension, particularly after families of the victims received detailed hospital invoices. Although these documents were sent for informational purposes and did not constitute direct payment requests from the families, they have sparked public indignation. One specific case involved a 16-year-old who incurred a bill of 66,800 Swiss francs for less than 15 hours of intensive care in Sion before being transferred to Italy.