Italians faced disruptions to
healthcare services on Tuesday as doctors, nurses and healthcare
executives staged a nationwide 24-hour strike in protest over
pension cuts and other measures affecting healthcare contained
in the 2024 budget bill currently before parliament.
Some 85% of medical staff abstained from work according to
unions, adding that up to 1.5 million medical appointments could
be missed as a result.
"We are talking about a cut in the pension allowance of at least
50,000 people, amounting to up to 26,347 euro per year for
life," the unions said of the contested measures in the budget
bill, announcing a state of agitation last month.
"If, with this budget, the government intends to push doctors
further away from the national health service, we will gladly
lend them a hand," said ANAAO ASSOMED Secretary Pierino Di
Silverio and CIMO-FESMED President Guido Quici.
"And when patients who go to hospital find even fewer
professionals to treat them, they will know who to blame," they
added.
Former health minister Roberto Speranza of the centre-left
opposition Democratic Party (PD) has also criticised the
proposed "recalculation mechanism leading to a significant
reduction in doctors' pensions".
"From heroes of the pandemic to pension snatching: it is a real
disgrace that must be remedied as soon as possible," he added.
On Monday evening Minister for Relations with Parliament Luca
Ciriani said "by the end of the week" the government would file
its amendments to the budget bill, including "the most
important one on doctors' pension".
"I have just spoken about it with (Economy Minister Giancarlo)
Giorgetti, they are still working on it, we hope that it will be
ready quickly," said Ciriani.
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