Many buildings, but no services due to a shortage of doctors. And on the horizon, a possible outsourcing to private providers, as is already happening in other regions.

This is the risk faced by hospitals and community homes in Sardinia , the two pillars of the reform of territorial healthcare provided for by the PNRR which, according to Gianfranco Angioni (Usb Sanità Sardegna) , risks turning into the greatest failure of public healthcare.

" Facilities are being opened while the departments are unable to guarantee staffing. In other regions, staff shortages have already paved the way for outsourcing to private providers . Sardinia must decide whether to strengthen public healthcare or witness its dismantling." In essence, while facilities are being inaugurated and claims are being made that the PNRR objectives have been reached and exceeded (64 homes and 18 hospitals ready, compared to the planned targets of 50 and 13), "no one is explaining which doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers those facilities will have to employ."

This is the real crux of the reform. The union has formally asked the Region to make public the organizational models, staffing needs, and the planned workforce for the new facilities, but "to date, no response has been received, and it's a serious silence" because "we can't invest millions without explaining who will actually provide the care."

Moreover, staffing shortages are already a harsh reality in Sardinian hospitals: "The departments continue to lack doctors, nurses, and healthcare assistants, beds are insufficient, and staff are subjected to unsustainable workloads. Instead of hiring new professionals, they're asking for sacrifices; it's a continuous emergency management without planning."

And starting June 30th, with the ban on paid doctors, the system risks a definitive crisis, as paid doctors are essential to maintaining the operational capacity of various activities in emergency rooms, anesthesia departments, and hospital outpatient clinics. There are two days left, and Angioni warns. According to the union, an extraordinary hiring plan can no longer be postponed.