Italy faces critical shortage of general practitioners

The region is facing a critical shortage of general practitioners, impacting healthcare access for thousands of residents. In Santa Vittoria di Gualtieri, local medical coverage is under pressure as Dr. Briones departs in October. While Dr. Gallo will provide temporary coverage for that month, a recent recruitment attempt by the Azienda USL went unanswered. To mitigate the impact, the municipality is collaborating with Auser to provide transportation for citizens needing to reach distant clinics.

Broader provincial data reveals that 5,876 residents currently lack a primary care physician. The crisis is expected to intensify by 2027, when 18 doctors are projected to reach retirement age. Current practitioners are facing unsustainable workloads, with 138 doctors managing over 1,500 patients each. Political groups, including the PD, are calling for reduced bureaucracy and increased administrative support to attract younger doctors and stabilize the sector.