VIDEO | Waiting lists, here are the citizens’ voices

The mammogram? In 2025. Scintigraphy? “Come back in a month.” Citizens are angry and disheartened about the issue of waiting lists. "It's useless for them to talk, they don't do anything anyway, they only think about themselves and that's it," says Lina, 78 years old

ROME – The day after the Council of Ministers gave the green light to the bill to combat waiting lists and a few hours after the measures announced by the Minister of Health, Orazio Schillaci, the Dire agency collected the voices of some citizens in front of the Policlinico Umberto I in Rome to understand the moods and sensations of Italians in the face of what promises to be a real breath of fresh air for the National Health Service. According to Daniele, 42 years old, “these are certainly necessary measures, but the real problem is the lack of staff. This is why we need to see if what was announced yesterday is feasible. Not enough people are being hired, who are paid little, and this is a structural problem, it is an underlying problem”.

“I think these are necessary measures on the part of the government – the words of Andrea, 41 years old – especially for citizens who have paid contributions for years and it is right that they are assisted in the correct way. It’s a shame – he regrets it – that a healthcare system like ours, which was the flagship of the 80s, also copied by Northern European countries such as Sweden and Denmark, has suffered such significant inflation in recent years and that we have moved increasingly towards privatisation. As the Constitution states, I think that health is a primary right: therefore these measures are welcome”.

In front of the Capitoline hospital is Mrs. Elisabetta, 40 years old, eight months pregnant. Faced with the measures announced by the Meloni government, the future mother explains that “it was something necessary but it should have been done a long time ago. Even taking a blood sample takes a month. And let’s not talk of visits: I had to have an ultrasound and they gave me the first appointment when I would have already given birth”.

Mrs Stefania, 84 years old, also reports truly incredible delays. “I called Cup to have a mammogram and they told me that availability was for 2025. And to do an abdominal ultrasound they even suggested 2026. I, however, already have one certain age and in this way prevention does not exist”. Mrs. Marina, 67 years old, looks with hope to the future of healthcare. “Let’s hope they manage to do something, because the lists are really long. I’m making several visits and there’s always a wait: I lost a month just to do some tests.”

Mrs. Stefania also has to wait 30 days. “To do a scintigraphy they told me to come back after a month“, while Mrs. Lina, 78 years old, reports that “to do an ultrasound I had to wait 6 months and I feel sick. It’s useless for them to talk, they don’t do anything anyway, they just think about themselves“.
There are also those who have been waiting to undergo a specialist visit for over 12 months. “My wife, who is 70 years old – says Mr. Valentino – has been waiting to get her kidney stones removed for more than a year and no one has ever called us yet”.

Meanwhile, the opposition goes on the attack: there would not be adequate financial coverage to guarantee what the executive promised. “Money for health must be found– warns Andrea- and, as I said before, I think it is the most important right for human beings”.
“I don’t believe in these at all measures– thunders Mr. Valentino- because they save on other things and, with healthcare, there is the possibility of safeguarding the citizens first and foremost. And then they can do what they want”. Meanwhile, this weekend we will vote for the European Parliament elections. “I think – Andrea continues – it is a good electoral move for whoever made this proposal”. “Certainly – Elisabetta adds – the timing is suspicious“, while Mr Valentino speaks of “election adverts and that’s it“. Mrs Stefania is laconic: “I don’t believe anyone anymore”.