Health, Consulcesi: “Summer at risk of tilt, task force against shortage of family doctors”

“The summer months are the time of year when the shortage of family doctors is felt the most. It is enough to see the emergency rooms perennially clogged, even with cases easily managed by the general practitioner, to realize how high it is needs in Italy. Between holidays and the numerous ‘accidents’ of holidays, there are very few family doctors available in this period. Yet, as Consulcesi denounced, the entrance tests for the specific training course in General Medicine, which were held at the end of April, 10,000 potential white coats were ‘discarded’ “. This was underlined by Consulcesi itself, which created a task force to find useful solutions. “In our country there is only one family doctor for every 1,407 inhabitants – highlights Massimo Tortorella, president of Consulcesi – In some regions the numbers are even lower: in Molise, for example, there is a general practitioner for every 1,151. inhabitants, in Basilicata one in 1,184, in Abruzzo one in 1,205, in Puglia one family doctor out of 1,237. It is unacceptable for a country that wants to focus on territorial health “. To this chronic deficiency – notes the network dedicated to the support of the medical profession – are added delays, which are also chronic. “Like the non-publication of the competition announcement for the three-year period 2021-2024 which was expected at the end of February”, Tortorella remarks. “A sign of scarce attention to the problem, which should instead be given top priority”, he warns. The risk envisaged by Consulcesi is in fact that many Italians, in view of the widespread retirements expected, remain without a family doctor and that they have nothing left to do but clog up the emergency room. Hence the Consulcesi initiative: “A real and its own task force – reads a note – which aims to seek legal solutions to help as many excluded candidates as possible access the Training Course in General Medicine. And perhaps create a precedent that will serve to limit the effects of the most problematic funnel training that characterizes the Italian training system. In July – remember – there are the last days to appeal for those who are not included in the 2020-2023 ranking. For more information, contact the number 800 189 091 of the Consulcesi free desk “.