Italian primary‑care doctor shortages

In late July 2026, several small Italian municipalities reported growing strain on primary‑care services. Moliterno launched an experimental “Health Desk” to help residents, especially the elderly, navigate appointments and administrative procedures, while the community in Osimo Stazione organized a protest demanding new doctors and the conversion of municipal spaces into clinics.

A few days later, the issue resurfaced in other regions. In the Alpine town of Nus, the sole family doctor’s contract was set to expire, prompting a petition of over 3,200 signatures urging authorities to appoint a replacement. Meanwhile, in Porto Torres, Sardinia, a provisional GP took over from a retired practitioner, but thousands of residents remained without a permanent family doctor. Local officials warned that continued shortages could lead to a “progressive demolition” of primary‑care services and greater reliance on limited‑hour clinics.

Together, these reports illustrate a nationwide challenge in Italy, where aging populations and contract expirations are prompting both grassroots initiatives and calls for urgent administrative action to sustain primary‑care access.