The new year is starting with a shiver in the Alto Oristano area . The news had been in the air for some time, but now it's certain that two local doctors will retire on January 1st (and a third likely in July). This increases the number of people without basic healthcare . An estimated 6,500 remain in the Alto Oristano area, and according to data provided by the special commissioner of the Oristano Local Health Authority (ASL) 5 and his staff at a recent meeting in Ghilarza, 50,000 remain across the entire province.
A very serious situation, the worst-case scenario on the island, as confirmed by Peppino Canu, one of the doctors who will retire on December 31st and who also serves as a regional councilor. " Out of 88 general practitioner positions in our province, there are 36 Ascots: ours is the only local health authority in this disastrous situation. The problem is that it's no longer a patchy situation, but affects every area: the Alto Oristano area, the Terralbese area, the Marmilla area, the Montiferru area. And the serious thing is that young people don't want to be general practitioners ," says Canu. He adds: "Years ago, we failed to interpret the Balduzzi law that referred to territorial aggregations. We're also behind on community hospitals. We're very well prepared for acute care, but you can't keep an elderly person in the hospital for a broken femur; we need adequate facilities."
To say goodbye to his patients and thank them, Canu sent a letter retracing his 34 years as a general practitioner. He concluded with a message of hope: " I will continue to practice my profession, in the form and manner established by management , presumably with the establishment of an Ascot that will be opened in Sedilo on the premises of my practice."
Therefore, Dr. Canu, despite retiring, should be available at least one day a week for those without a doctor. But the long waits at Ascot are also worrying residents, although some news on this matter could come from the Region: "The goal," Canu explains, "is to be able to decide that all Ascots are equipped with computers and an administrative figure. I will personally keep the secretary at my expense for the time being." But before we have certainty about the possibility of Ascot in Sedilo and serving the local area? "I hope the first shift will be activated immediately after Epiphany, because people need assistance," Canu concludes.