(See related)
Cuts to health-care spending of up
to 2.4 billion euros over two years were on the table Thursday
as part of a broader plan to slash 10 billion euros in income
taxes, according to a draft document.
The paper included plans to fund Premier Matteo Renzi's
ambitious spending and tax reduction programs via a cut of 868
million euros this year and 1.5 billion euros in 2015 from
health-care budgets, as well as a reduction to salaries of
public managers, judges, professors and military officials.
The plan, including the income-tax reduction, was expected
to be presented Friday for approval via a decree at a cabinet
meeting.
Renzi has previously said he would not cut from the overall
health budget, but might instead shift resources depending on
new priorities within the department.
Health Minister Beatrice Lorenzin has said her ministry
will contribute to a government savings review by promoting
better planning and efficiency, rather than across-the-board
cuts.
A report on Wednesday suggested that corruption,
inefficiency and waste in Italy's health sector cost the State
23.6 billion euros a year,
The Institute for the Promotion of Ethics in Health (IPSE)
said that of Italy's total health spending of around 114 billion
euros in 2013, an estimated 6.4 billion euros went up in smoke
because of graft alone.
Other departments targeted by the formal spending-review
process have included the Defence department, where officials
have said that as much as three billion euros could be saved by
reducing spending on the Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets'
budget.
As many as 385 military barracks could be sold to cut
costs.
Renzi has also said that most public managers should not
earn more than Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, whose
salary is 238,000 euros annually.
Renzi's economic blueprint, formally called the Economic
and Financial Document (DEF), cleared the Senate earlier
Thursday and was expected to win approval as well in the Lower
House.
The DEF needs to be approved by parliament quickly so it
can be delivered to the EC before the end of the month.
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