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Italy healthcare waiting lists show regional disparities and delays
Analysis of Agenas data for the first nine months of 2026 reveals that while national healthcare bookings have increased to 21.81 million, over 4 million appointments remain outside maximum guaranteed timeframes. Although the percentage of appointments scheduled within legal limits saw slight national improvements—rising to 78.6% for first visits and 85% for diagnostic exams—experts warn these gains are largely driven by increased service volumes rather than improved efficiency.
Regional performance varies significantly. Calabria has seen a decline in service timeliness, with a 2.7 percentage point drop for first visits and a 2.1 percentage point drop for diagnostic exams compared to 2025. In Calabria, 66% of first visits are classified under priority class P (programmable within 120 days), significantly higher than the national average of 34.9%.
Only three regions—Basilicata, Marche, and Lazio—meet the 90% guarantee threshold for all priority classes regarding first visits. For diagnostic exams, only Basilicata and Veneto reach this threshold. The data also highlights the issue of care renunciation; in 2025, 9.6% of the Italian population reported skipping medical services, with rates in regions like Puglia and Calabria exceeding the national average.
Entities
Agenas · Calabria · Codices · Codici · FISM · Fondazione GIMBE · Istat · Italian National Health Service · Italy · Nino Cartabellotta · Salutequità
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Only Basilicata, Marche, and Lazio meet the 90% guarantee threshold for all priority classes for first visits. www.ilsannioquotidiano.it · www.rifday.it · lamilano.it
- [● 2 SOURCES] In 2025, 9.6% of the Italian population reported renouncing at least one medical service. www.iacchite.blog · www.laprovinciakr.it
- [● 2 SOURCES] In Calabria, 66% of first visit bookings are in priority class P (programmable within 120 days). www.crotoneok.it · www.iacchite.blog
- [● 3 SOURCES] National bookings for monitored services rose from 19.75 million to 21.81 million between 2025 and 2026. www.ilvibonese.it · lanovitaonline.it · www.telebari.it
- [● 2 SOURCES] National compliance for diagnostic exams rose from 83.3% to 85% in the monitored period. www.ilvibonese.it · lanovitaonline.it
- [● 2 SOURCES] The national average for priority class P bookings for first visits is 34.9%. www.crotoneok.it · www.iacchite.blog
- [● 3 SOURCES] Calabria's timely first visits decreased by 2.7 percentage points compared to 2025. www.crotoneok.it · www.iacchite.blog · www.laprovinciakr.it
- [● 4 SOURCES] Over 4 million medical appointments in Italy are currently outside maximum guaranteed timeframes. www.crotoneok.it · www.ilvibonese.it · www.laleggepertutti.it · www.telebari.it