Santo Stefano del Sole faces healthcare crisis amid doctor shortage

The municipality of Santo Stefano del Sole is facing a socio-sanitary emergency due to a total lack of general practitioners. The town, which has approximately 2,100 residents and a high percentage of elderly citizens with chronic conditions, is currently without primary medical coverage.

Mayor Gerardo Santoli has issued an urgent appeal to the ASL of Avellino, the Campania Region Health Department, and the Ministry of Health. He described the situation as ‘unacceptable’ and a violation of the constitutional right to health. The shortage prevents residents from obtaining life-saving prescriptions, renewing therapeutic plans, or receiving home visits, forcing vulnerable citizens to travel to neighboring towns or rely on hospital emergency services.

The Mayor is demanding that the competent ASL implement extraordinary measures, such as provisional assignments or temporary aggregations, to restore essential medical services immediately.