At the recent conference "What kind of healthcare is possible? − Health inequalities in Sardinia," promoted by the Don Primo Mazzolari Cultural Circle, Gianni Addis, mayor of Tempio Pausania and president of the Gallura Local Health Authority's Socio-Health Conference, outlined the current healthcare situation in Gallura, marked by years-long structural and organizational shortcomings.
Addis drew attention to the chronicity and aging of the population, which make continuous patient care urgent. The "proactive healthcare" model, which should have been implemented in community centers, remains incomplete, often leaving chronically ill patients alone, between visits, CUPs, and requests for referrals. Added to this are endless waiting lists and an often inefficient booking system, which hinder prevention and treatment.
Another critical issue is the health emergency: Gallura, a vast and sparsely populated region, is suffering heavily from staff shortages and poor transportation. "Everything is more difficult here," Addis observed. Helicopter rescue isn't enough, and the emergency rooms in Olbia and Tempio, especially in the summer, are overwhelmed.
It should also be noted, the mayor of Tempio stated, "that the shortage of general practitioners, medical and tourist on-call staff has caused users to flock to the emergency rooms even for simple white codes, contributing to congestion."
In this context, Gianni Addis stated, "it seems crucial to revitalize the role of small hospitals. Strengthening local services is essential; the local network should be strengthened with adequate financial resources, but also with staffing and personnel resources sufficient to ensure the resumption of operations of small facilities. Therefore, it is necessary and urgent," added Gianni Addis, president of the Socio-Health Conference of the Gallura Local Health Authority, "to revise the Company Act to restore—particularly in the Olbia, Tempio, and La Maddalena facilities—not only their role as providers of adequate healthcare services to the departments, but also the professional dignity of doctors and healthcare workers, severely tested by the serious criticalities that have persisted for years."