The Italian National Health Service is grappling with many difficulties, which represent an insurmountable obstacle for patients and undermine the Right to health enshrined in the Italian Constitution.
In this context, PresaDirect, the in-depth program conducted by Richard Iacona, dedicated an episode to the crisis of the Italian health system, trying to explore the causes and possible solutions to resolve this critical situation.
The current situation of Italian healthcare
In the last ten years 37.000 beds have been cut throughout Italy, with increasingly long waiting times for visits and operations, especially specialist ones, which also represent a problem for patients with serious pathologies like cancer.
Furthermore, the lack of medical and nursing staff it is bringing a system to its knees which, although still functioning, fails to guarantee adequate health care for all citizens.
The health situation in the different regions
The Live Bet bet moves from south to north to explore the situation in the different regions of the country, starting with Calabria and Basilicata, where the health service is in a deep crisis.
The lack of staff and the reduction of beds has pushed many families to give up hope of receiving treatment adequate.
The shortage of medical and nursing staff
The lack of medical and nursing staff is a crucial problem for the quality of health care offered to patients. The data shows that about 150.000 doctors and 300.000 nurses are missing compared to the average of European countries with a more developed public health system.
However, the medical and nursing staff are also forced to work in precarious conditions and with too low wages, as well as being subjected to grueling shifts.
Healthcare excellence in Italy: the Sant'Orsola Malpighi Hospital in Bologna
Despite the difficulties, the Direct Drive episode also wants to show how there are still realities of excellence in the Italian public health system, such as the Sant'Orsola Malpighi hospital in Bologna.
An example of a public hospital where citizens only pay the cost of the ticket and receive treatment of the highest level, but here too a cry of alarm comes: the money is no longer enough to support such a large hospital organization.
Where to see Presa Diretta on TV, streaming and on-demand
The transmission conducted by Iacona will be broadcast at 21:20 on Rai 3, will also be available in live streaming on the channel page on RaiPlay and, at the end, on the broadcast page on RaiPlay for on-demand viewing.
