Italy's community health centers plagued by staff shortages despite new guidelines

Community health houses built with National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) funds are often empty because the necessary medical and nursing staff have not been hired. Physicians report working in makeshift offices with inadequate resources, mandatory extra shifts, and overwhelming bureaucracy. Mario Braga, vice‑president of Medici del mondo Italia, said the funding covers only buildings and technology, not personnel. Primary‑care doctor Anna Filigheddu described having to travel long distances and manage patient loads beyond capacity, highlighting the strain on both staff and patients.

On 28 July, the national health agency Agenas issued technical guidelines defining multiprofessional teams for these centers. The document outlines roles for central nurses, shared leadership, case‑management processes and outcome indicators, translating the requirements of Ministerial Decree 77/2022 for territorial care reform. While the recommendations are not binding, they aim to coordinate doctors, nurses, specialists and social workers into continuous, measurable care pathways.