High costs and volunteers on the run, ambulances at risk of being stopped

Several rescue organizations have already closed their doors or are on the verge of giving up: costs are too high and volunteers are fleeing, making it impossible to continue the 118 emergency service . Stations are being reduced (currently there are about 120 across the island, but pieces are falling one after another, especially in the south), or work shifts are being reduced, as much as 40 percent, meaning that those who work 24 hours a day can't even cover three weeks in a month, and this is especially true in small peripheral towns, already without a clinic, a medical emergency service, and now even an ambulance.

"The situation is serious," warns Pierpaolo Emmolo, president of Socor (Coordination of Volunteer First Aid and Healthcare Associations in Sardinia) . "First and foremost, there's the problem of expensive fuel, then medical oxygen, reimbursement for 'lost' supplies in emergency rooms, mandatory medical visits, insurance, and many others." They signed the new agreement a couple of months ago, a temporary one, a "bridge" while waiting for the Third Sector reform to be implemented, but now a series of issues need to be addressed. For this reason, they have written to the general director of Areus and the regional health councilor, requesting an urgent meeting to avert the worst. "Continuing to delay the resolution of the critical issues, on top of the numerous disruptions and difficulties, leads to a progressive and irreparable departure of volunteers and to the abandonment of the service by the organizations."