Italy's hospitals face critical OSS staff shortage and €1 billion external hiring surge

The trade union S.O.S.S. has reported a severe shortage of OSS (Operatore Socio‑Sanitario) staff at the AORN San Pio hospital in Benevento, calling for an urgent meeting with hospital management, the mayor and the prefect. The union notes that despite regional funding allocations and new department openings, hiring has stalled, jeopardising patient safety and care quality.

A national report by the Anticorruption Authority (Anac) shows that Italian health authorities spent more than €1 billion on external medical and nursing personnel in 2024‑2025, with a 15 % rise from the previous year. The majority of contracts are awarded without competitive bidding, concentrating over half of the spending in Northern regions while the South lags behind. Anac’s president urges a return to transparent public recruitment to curb costs and improve service quality.