Italy healthcare system faces staffing challenges despite staff increase

The Italian National Health Service (SSN) saw a 1.6% increase in permanent staff in 2024, resulting in a positive net balance of 11,073 workers following 58,311 hires and 47,238 departures. Despite these figures, healthcare unions and officials warn that the crisis is not over. Gianluca Giuliano of UGL Salute noted that while recruitment through stable competitions is rising, the system faces challenges with generational turnover and the need to retain professionals amidst increasing healthcare demands.

Regional reports highlight severe localized pressures. In Cagliari, the NurSind union warned of a potential collapse in major hospitals due to chronic shortages of nurses and socio-sanitary workers. Similarly, the Ast Ancona reported extreme overcrowding in the Jesi emergency department, citing high Nedocs scores and the impact of an aging population and high temperatures.

Furthermore, the implementation of the new ‘Nursing Assistant’ professional profile, intended to bridge the gap between socio-sanitary workers and nurses, has faced slow progress in training and national rollout. In Modena, general practitioners report that the medical network is operating at the limit of its capacity as they struggle to replace retiring doctors.