Government Summit at Palazzo Chigi: at the center of the debate healthcare, waiting lists and family doctor reform

At the center of the debate territorial medicine, waiting lists and the future of family doctors. Also present was the president of the Conference of the Regions Massimiliano Fedriga.

The government summit on health, held at Palazzo Chigi Today, Tuesday 12 February, saw the participation of the President of the Council Giorgia Meloni, of the deputy prime ministers Antonio Tajani and Matteo Salvini, of the Minister of Health Horace Schillaci, of the Minister of Economy Giancarlo Giorgetti and the President of the Conference of the Regions Massimiliano Fedriga.

The meeting focused on the reform of family doctors, a crucial issue for the improvement of territorial medicine and the National Health Service (SSN). Among the main topics discussed was also the problem of waiting lists, which continues to represent one of the most felt critical issues by citizens.

Family Doctors: Towards a New Reform

Minister Schillaci reiterated the urgency of intervening in territorial medicine to improve the functioning of the facilities and reduce overcrowding in emergency rooms.o.

The main focus is Strengthen the network of Community Houses, financed with the PNRR funds, where the family doctors could work as NHS employees.

Currently, General practitioners are freelance professionals in agreement with the NHSThe reform under consideration includes a possible direct hiring in the Community Houses, while maintaining the option for those who already practice to continue to operate under an agreementAnd. “We must ensure that general medicine becomes a single and homogeneous university specialization in all Regions“, Schillaci declared.

Forza Italia, however, opposed this proposal, expressing doubts on the transformation of the employment relationship of general practitioners.

Waiting Lists and National Health Service: Priorities

Il National Health Service needs a major overhaul, as underlined by Minister Schillaci. “It has been 46 years since its establishment. It is essential to maintain its universality and ensure greater attention to people with fewer means".

Another critical point is that of the waiting lists, needing new rules to improve booking management. Among the proposed solutions, Schillaci cited the Single CUP and the absolute ban on closing lists"I'm thinking about a single Cup or an absolute ban on closing waiting lists and reservations”, the minister declared, adding that “for this reason there is a need for the complete participation of everyone, in particular of the Regions".

The Regions will therefore be actively involved in these reforms, as confirmed by the minister, to find shared and operational solutions starting in the next few months.

Fedriga: “No conclusions, just an update”

The president of the Conference of Regions, Massimiliano Fedriga, explained that the summit was a general discussion to take stock of the current situation: “No conclusion has been reached. There are many priorities to address: from waiting lists to emergency-urgency, to the attractiveness of medical specializations".

Future measures to be adopted

The government will continue the discussions with the Regions in the coming days to outline a clearer picture of the measures to be takenThe new rules could come into force as early as 2026, when the network of Community Houses will be completed.

"Only with the collaboration of all the subjects involved will we be able to make Italian public health more efficient", concluded Minister Schillaci.