«The shortage of paediatricians is a problem throughout Italy, not just the local health authority of Cagliari. And in any case we have found a buffer solution: so far no one has been left without». The medical director of Company 8, Roberto Massazza, speaks of "unjustified scaremongering".
In recent days, under the regional health department, the demonstration called by the municipal councilors Giulia Andreozzi (Possibile) and Camilla Soru (Pd) was staged, which was also attended by regional councilors. Their complaints, in summary: there hasn't been a turnover of paediatricians, two have retired and a third is about to retire, all had a higher number of assisted little ones above the levels of tolerance, those who remain find themselves inundated of new patients.
Result: not only is basic health care not guaranteed, the two councilors argue, but even having a simple medical certificate risks becoming impossible.
«Protests in good faith, perhaps», replies Massazza, «but this is not the situation and there is the risk of only committing terrorism. We have 14 pediatricians in the area, eleven on permanent contracts. Fifteen would be needed to respect the ceiling of 880 patients each ». Asl already knew in November that «two paediatricians would retire in January . For this Ares has made a tender, for the recruitment of substitutes ». But no one joined: «It happens because there are not enough pediatricians on the square. And we cannot recruit figures who are missing», underlines the medical director, who adds: «So we have proposed the derogation from the ceiling. Five of the pediatricians on duty joined and took charge of the assistance of children who risked being discovered». Problem solved? «Emergency buffered, I would say», continues Massazza, «the offices tell me that there hasn't been a single complaint and no child has been left without a pediatrician. In short: those who contested did so on what could happen and did not happen ».
Camilla Soru, one of the promoters of the dispute, replies shortly: «Isn't there a problem? Good. So why is my daughter without a pediatrician?», she jokes, «my situation is common to many. It is obvious that no specialist will join a call for tenders if they are offered a one-year position as a substitute. Which would then prevent him from participating in further selections in the same territory, definitively ». With Andreozzi «to begin to lighten the burdens of the doctors on duty, we proposed that parents certify the healings for returning to school», adds Soru, «a solution approved by the insiders. But they don't move in the Region. Maybe because they say the problem doesn't exist: how do they solve it?».
(Unioneonline/E.Fr.)