Marche Region implements overbooking to reduce healthcare waiting lists

The Marche Region has approved a resolution to make overbooking a structural measure within its healthcare system to address long waiting lists. This policy allows for an additional appointment to be scheduled at the beginning or end of a session to compensate for last-minute cancellations and ensure medical facilities are used to their full capacity.

The measure specifically targets specialist visits, mammographies, ultrasounds, and bone densitometry (MOC). By implementing overbooking, the region aims to recover slots that would otherwise remain unused due to patient no-shows.

Additionally, the resolution mandates that any canceled or relinquished appointments must be promptly reallocated across all priority classes to maximize available services. Regional Councilor Paolo Calcinaro noted that while this is not a total solution to the complexity of waiting lists, it serves as an organizational tool to optimize time and improve access for citizens.