[REVISION HISTORY]

Italian health system staffing and regional reforms

Updated 27 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-14 14:56 UTC → 2026-10-25 05:17 UTC · added ~~removed~~

By late 2026, Italy’s public health system faced intensifying scrutiny over funding stability, socioeconomic disparities, and a critical workforce crisis. While the National Federation of Orders of Physicians, Surgeons and Dentists (FNOMCeO) proposed a national solidarity fund to address territorial inequalities, data from Fondazione per la Sussidiarietà showed a widening gap in care access, with 12% of low-income individuals forgoing specialist visits. Staffing pressures have escalated into a significant exodus of medical professionals. Data from the Centro Studi Anaao Assomed reveals that ~~for the first time~~ in ~~the 2015–2025 decade,~~ 2025, voluntary resignations of hospital doctors (3,767) ~~have~~ surpassed retirements ~~(2,876).~~ (2,876), a 150% increase from 2024. This trend is driven by ~~mid-career professionals leaving for the private sector or positions abroad due to~~ heavy workloads, uncompetitive salaries, and burnout. The crisis has intensified within surgical specialties. The Italian Society of Surgery warned that within five years, retiring doctors could outnumber new specialists, potentially putting approximately one in ten general surgery procedures at risk, is particularly acute in ~~southern~~ surgical specialties and ~~peripheral regions. This is exacerbated by a mismatch in medical training,~~ primary care, where ~~approximately 17% of regional specialization contracts—2,569 out~~ shortages of ~~15,283—remain unfilled. Critical vacancies are most prevalent in emergency medicine, anesthesia, intensive care, and~~ general ~~surgery. Gianluca Giuliano, national secretary~~ practitioners impact thousands of ~~UGL Salute, noted that the profession is losing appeal due to exhausting shifts, low salaries relative~~ residents. A severe nursing shortage has also emerged, with an estimated deficit of 175,000 professionals compared to European ~~standards, and the burden~~ standards. While universities increased nursing training spots for 2026/2027, a deficit of ~~medico-legal litigation.~~ 4,807 positions remains. Regional disparities are worsening. Sicily has seen rising delayed medical services, and Puglia faces a 349 million euro healthcare deficit, leading to hiring freezes. In ~~October 2026,~~ Novara, waiting times for diagnostic procedures have reached extreme levels, sometimes exceeding 600 days. In response, Health Minister Orazio Schillaci has proposed prioritizing new hires and salary increases in the upcoming budget law. Additionally, a new collective bargaining agreement (CCNL) for ~~the~~ 2025–2027 ~~period was reached for approximately 137,000 healthcare managers, including 120,000 doctors. The agreement~~ provides healthcare managers with an average ~~gross~~ monthly gross salary increase of 560 ~~euros for 13 months, to be fully implemented by 2027. Beyond compensation, the contract introduces professional career advancements, protections against workplace aggression, and the first~~ euros, alongside new regulations ~~regarding the use of~~ for artificial intelligence in the ~~healthcare~~ workplace.

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