The hospital doctors' union Anaao Assomed has issued a formal warning to five Sardinian healthcare providers. This is according to the White Paper presented today to the Chamber of Deputies, which provides a documented national overview of "the contractual breaches and organizational distortions that have burdened medical and healthcare management in the National Health Service over the past year."
The document highlights a two-tier system, marked by severe staff shortages and administrative issues that slow down the full operation of services. Analysis of data collected from various healthcare providers on the island reveals recurring themes that threaten the system's stability and the well-being of workers.
Unused Funds and Assignments
A paradox exists in several companies, Anaao highlights: while staff are working under emergency conditions, significant unspent funds remain. This is the case for ASL 2 Gallura, ASL 6 Medio Campidano, ASL 8 Cagliari, and the Istituto Zooprofilattico. Furthermore, in many organizations, professional positions are not being filled regularly, with serious repercussions on salaries, career progression, work organization, and ultimately pensions.
Staff shortage and shift emergency
Regarding staffing shortages, the situation is particularly critical in Nuoro (Local Health Authority 3), with severe shortages at the San Francesco and San Camillo di Sorgono hospitals, and in Ogliastra (Local Health Authority 4), where geographic isolation makes recruitment difficult. In these areas, the use of "pay-as-you-go" doctors, additional services, and exceeding the limit of five monthly on-call hours have become the norm to avoid department closures.
Industrial Relations and Warnings
The climate remains tense in several areas, the union maintains. Cagliari's Local Health Authority (ASL 8) has been issued a warning for anti-union activity, while Sassari's AOU (National Health Authority) faces a lawsuit for the failure to distribute performance bonuses since 2013 and for the cancellation in 2025 of excess hours worked in 2023, resulting in serious harm to medical and healthcare managers. Cagliari's AOU has also received a warning, addressed to the previous management, for issues regarding positions and their compensation.
Safety at work
Although many companies have adopted adequate measures (such as the Sassari Local Health Authority), doubts persist regarding safety in the Sassari Local Health Authority (measures not adopted) and in several Local Health Authorities (Gallura, Oristano, Sulcis, Cagliari) where the measures appear to be "not entirely adequate".
Bright side
But the White Paper also highlights some instances of management improvement: after years of a total freeze on negotiations and breaches that led to a formal warning from the Anaao secretariat, the Medio Campidano Local Health Authority (ASL) 6 is showing signs of resuming bargaining activity under its current management, although critical issues such as staffing shortages in the Emergency Room and Pediatrics ward remain unchanged. The Local Health Authority (ASL) of Nuoro, Oristano, Lanusei, and Areus also report a relaxed atmosphere between the commissioners and the unions.
(Unioneonline)
