Emilia Romagna, 50 milioni in tre anni per i sanitari

The Region is dealing with an unprecedented national underfunding. And the numbers don't lie.

There are no funds for non-self-sufficiency, for transport, for the maintenance of rivers and coasts, to prevent landslides, guarantee essential services, school inclusion, support those who cannot pay rent. And, of course, Healthcare, which is increasingly close to the breaking point.

To resist, the Region is launching a bold maneuver: 400 million euros more, thanks to regional tax levers – Irpef, healthcare tickets, Irap and car tax (from 2026) – but with increases based on income, to protect the most vulnerable groups.

In 2025, Emilia-Romagna will be the region with the highest Fund in Italy: almost 570 million euros. But it's not enough. National underfunding is a chasm that swallows everything: the regional Healthcare will end with 200 million in deficit. Citizens are already realizing it: just think of the 4 euros more in tickets they are paying.

Here's the paradox: while the shortage of nurses is crippling wards and emergency rooms, the Region announces a fund of 50 million over three years to prevent the exodus of nurses. A commendable initiative, inspired by Veneto. But in practice? Once again, money intended for nurses that gets lost in the sea of the "healthcare sector" – 55,993 workers – when the exodus concerns the region's 34,000 nurses.

The result? A tip.
If divided among everyone, we're talking about 24 euros each. If destined only for nurses: 41 euros per month.
Pennies. Not enough to stop the exodus.

And meanwhile, hospitals are closing. In the last 10 years in Italy we have lost 125.
The shortage of nurses doesn't just mean longer waits: it means more infections, more avoidable deaths, more use of antibiotics, more days of hospitalization, more pain for patients. And it also means very high costs to treat complications such as pressure sores.

In the United States, in California, the law requires 1 nurse for every 5 patients. In Italy? 1 for every 12, 14, even 16 and in the private sector it's always worse.
And the paradox is that investing in nurses saves millions, in care, medicines, days of hospitalization and – above all – lives.

The salaries of healthcare executives are staggering.
In Emilia-Romagna there are 12,899 healthcare executives out of a total of 68,892 employees of the SSR. And jaw-dropping bonuses. But who really keeps the place running? The nurses, midwives, OSS, technicians, physiotherapists, etc., certainly not the management that often fosters a hostile environment with constant refusals even to the most basic requests from professionals.

We need the courage of the Government.
Instead of looking elsewhere, let's think about our problems.
A nurse who stays is a hospital that works. It's a citizen who is cared for. It's an Italy that breathes.

Making the nursing profession attractive is not an expense. It's an investment.
And the return, for the community, is worth millions.

Vincenzo Parisi - Nurse

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