Italy's Court of Auditors identifies structural issues in healthcare waiting lists

The Italian Court of Auditors has released a report highlighting that long healthcare waiting lists remain a structural crisis within the National Health Service (SSN). The report indicates that increased funding has not consistently resulted in a proportional reduction in waiting times or an increase in services provided.

Key obstacles identified include severe staff shortages, organizational and management inefficiencies, and regional disparities. The Court noted that while approximately 1.845 billion euros were allocated for the 2022-2025 period, only about 1.58 billion euros were utilized. The analysis suggests that the issue is not merely a lingering effect of the pandemic but is rooted in organic systemic problems, such as inadequate monitoring systems and a lack of disciplinary measures for underperforming health agency directors.

In response to these challenges, new governance models introduced by Decree-Law no. 73 of 2024 aim to improve the situation through enhanced control systems, digitalization, and better data availability. However, the Court emphasizes that the full impact of these measures can only be assessed once they are fully implemented.