The new governor of Sardinia Alessandra Todde takes a stand against the "drastic downsizing" of the Pnrr funds intended for public healthcare.
A downsizing - says Todde on Facebook - "desired and announced by the Meloni government, which does not just represent a budget cut, but is a real attack on the health of Sardinian citizens and the whole of Italy".
«While we are working to build the government team of our Sardinia and give the first answers to the many priorities that we have the task of addressing, I cannot remain silent in the face of a decision that hits Sardinia and the other regions hard. Italy ", explains Todde. Adding: «With a reduction of almost 1.2 billion euros from the PNRR, mainly relating to works for the seismic safety of hospital structures, and a consequent cut in spending on health in relation to GDP, we are witnessing a maneuver that puts at risk the ability to guarantee essential public health services to our population."
Furthermore, Todde highlights, «at a national level, 11 billion more per year would be needed to return to 2008 levels and instead even for the next two years there are no percentage increases in the ratio between public health spending and GDP. And this in a country like Italy where we already spend, again in relation to GDP, around half of what is spent on healthcare in France and Germany. This compromises not only the present but also the future of the healthcare system, and precisely at a time when it would be necessary and urgent to strengthen it , also given the call from the state accounting department to make the pre-arranged resources unavailable for the entry into force of the new tariffs and those for the updating of the Lea - equal to 631 million euros for the year 2024 and 781 million euros starting from 2025 -, which until now had been used to cover other inefficiencies of regional healthcare, until the effective use of the same for the purposes indicated by the regulations will be guaranteed".
«At the Conference of the Regions – continues the governor – the government was asked for a formal commitment to the elimination of defunding or to alternatively provide for the reinstatement of the funds, declaring itself ready to appeal to the Constitutional Court if such requests were to remain unheard» .
«The health of citizens – concludes Toidde – cannot be put on hold. It must be guaranteed in compliance with article 32 of the Constitution. I will not passively accept this decision. I ask the government to reconsider its priorities and put citizens' health first. I will do everything in my power to fight this decision and ensure that the voice of the Sardinians is heard."
(Unioneonline/lf)
