Warnings over doctor shortages amid Italian health reforms

Following concerns that traditional local doctors’ offices might disappear and the effects this would have on access to health care for older patients and those with restricted mobility, the Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza, announced that offices of family doctors would remain independent in a spoke-and-hub model with the community homes. According to Alessandro Nobili, Researcher in Health Policy, Mario Negri Institute, the reaction to the reforms is not encouraging. “In addition to the reluctance from the main Italian general practice associations, clear rules on the implementation of the community homes are lacking”, he said, arguing that an extensive evaluation of districts and hospitals should have been done to understand needs and demand.