There will be no extension for paid doctors in Sardinia's hospitals. The Region clarified this in a statement yesterday: "The use of this instrument will cease without fail on June 30, 2026, in accordance with Article 10 of Legislative Decree no. 34 of 2023." And the local health authorities (ASLs) are trying to prevent the catastrophe of department closures, especially emergency rooms, which outside the capital have been able to maintain service thanks to paid doctors, recruited through a golden contract awarded to the MST company.
The Directorate General for Health communicated to the health authorities the conclusion of the contract for the management of emergency room activities with an active medical on-call service. The Directorate General clarified that "it is not in a position to extend the contract," which will therefore expire on the established date. Yet, a few days ago, the President of the Region and interim Councilor Alessandra Todde herself announced that "if necessary to guarantee essential services during the summer, we will issue an ordinance to extend the contract for paid staff in emergency rooms that are experiencing difficulties."
Ultimately, the risk of legal disputes (the company warned the Region against recruiting its employees, who had signed contracts with non-competition clauses) created the risk of a vacuum.
Just yesterday, the Gallura Local Health Authority approved the recruitment of two doctors, drawing from an emergency list of professionals—mostly foreigners—who had expressed their availability to work on the island in 2023. The Olbia health authority's goal is "to reactivate the Obi, which is a priority for improving care pathways, reducing inappropriate hospitalizations, optimizing the use of acute care beds, and maintaining essential levels of care." Therefore, it is urgently necessary to proceed with the acquisition of the required professional skills. Two doctors will cost €145,920 for six months. Each, therefore, will require an outlay of over €12,000 per month.
Some local health authorities are confident that the 18 Brotzu doctors who signed up to offer services elsewhere will receive the green light from ARNAS: no agreements have been activated at this time. And the risk of emergency department closures in Sardinia is becoming increasingly real.
(Unioneonline/E.Fr.)