Reggio Calabria healthcare access facing critical challenges

Lucia Anita Nucera, former Social Policy Councilor for Reggio Calabria, has raised alarms regarding increasing difficulties in accessing healthcare services in the region. Citizens, particularly the elderly, vulnerable populations, and oncology patients, have reported significant obstacles including missed appointments, postponed exams, and long waiting lines.

Key concerns include a reported disparity in budgets allocated to accredited private healthcare facilities in the province of Reggio Calabria compared to other provinces in Calabria. This imbalance has reportedly led to the exhaustion of available services for contracted procedures as early as May and June, forcing those with financial means to pay privately while others face extended waits in public hospitals.

Oncology patients are facing specific challenges regarding diagnostic continuity, often struggling to secure necessary scans such as CT scans and MRIs within the same facility. Additionally, the closure of the Polo Sud and the Gallico outpatient clinic has caused further disruptions to local service delivery.