"We apologize for the inconvenience caused and regret to announce that due to a shortage of available doctors, some shifts will be suspended at the Aritzo Emergency Medical Service clinic." This is a statement from the Sorgono Health District (Nuoro Local Health Authority), informing residents that they will not be able to access medical care tonight, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:00 PM to 8:00 AM, and next Sunday all day and evening.
And announcements like this are now a daily occurrence on social media, updated week by week, describing a lack of local healthcare that's going from bad to worse, while the heat becomes oppressive and tourists arrive, driving up the numbers and, therefore, the demand for care.
Some locations have closed permanently, and some are operating intermittently. Some towns have 0% coverage in June. Irgoli, for example, or Luogosanto: no emergency medical services are currently scheduled for the entire month.
Next up are Orosei, which has only one operational shift out of forty, Aritzo, Lula, Santa Teresa di Gallura, Tertenia, Dorgali, Ilbono, Talana, all municipalities covered less than half the time they would need, and then stations open between 52 and 75% in thirty days.
Cristina Cossu
