Molise healthcare faces risks under new Essential Levels of Care

The Federazione dei Medici Territoriali (FMT) has warned that the new Essential Levels of Care (LEA) risk becoming an unfulfilled promise for the Molise region. Ernesto La Vecchia, the regional secretary of the FMT, stated that the current framework fails to account for the specific needs of a fragile and fragmented territory.

Molise consists of over 100 municipalities, most of which have fewer than 500 inhabitants. The FMT argues that providing uniform services without adequate programming, dedicated economic resources, and sufficient staff is impossible in such a context. A critical issue identified is territorial assistance; in municipalities with fewer than 650 inhabitants, shortage zones are not being declared, leaving entire communities without local healthcare facilities. This forces elderly and vulnerable citizens to endure long travels or forgo care entirely.

The FMT is calling for several interventions, including a revision of criteria for identifying shortage zones in small towns, adequate economic resources and hiring plans for internal areas, and increased investment in technology and personnel for Molise hospitals. They also advocate for healthcare programming that ensures equitable access and specific diagnostic-therapeutic pathways.