Will the money be able to convince the kids to stay on the island and work in the Sardinian public health system?
The Region has decided to allocate more than 20,000 euros per year to non-medical healthcare specialists at the Universities of Cagliari and Sassari . They must sign a commitment: after obtaining their degree, those receiving the grant must participate in competitions and selection processes that require their specialization, accept any assignments they may be assigned, and serve a total of at least thirty-six months, even if not continuous, in the Sardinian healthcare system .
The money
The allowance will be €20,227 per year for the first two years of specialization and €21,227 for subsequent years . The two universities will pay it monthly for the entire duration of the program. Qualified specialization students enrolled in the first year starting in the 2025/2026 academic year will be eligible.
To finance the measure, the Regional Government has allocated over €6.6 million between the universities of Cagliari and Sassari for the three-year period 2026-2028: €2,191,123 for each of 2026 and 2027, and €2,288,123 for 2028. The University of Cagliari will receive €1,352,037 for each of 2026 and 2027, and €1,412,037 for 2028; and the University of Sassari will receive €839,086 for each of the first two years, and €876,086 for the third.
The allowance will be awarded based on the merit rankings of the admission competitions, until available funds are exhausted.
There is a gross annual personal income limit of €27,000. Furthermore, specialist trainees already employed on a fixed-term basis through the specific channel established by law for entry into the health service during their training are excluded.
The “penalties”
The rules also provide for the refund of a portion of the funds received in the event of withdrawal or failure to meet commitments: 50 percent if availability is revoked during the course or if studies are interrupted; 80 percent for those who, after having received the allowance for the entire specialization, fail to meet their commitments.
