Health-care spending could be cut by 2.4 billion euros

(See related) (ANSA) - Rome, April 17 - 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.