11 million Italians foregoing health care - report (2)

(ANSA) - Rome, June 8 - Around 11 million people in Italy will forego or postpone health care interventions this year because of economic difficulties and-or long waiting lists, according to a report presented Wednesday by Censis research institute and the RBM health insurance company. The figure is up from nine million people in 2012, according to the report. It said 2.4 million elderly and 2.2 million people born between 1980 and 2000 were affected, making those age groups the most exposed to the problem.
    "The universe of denied health care is expanding, with new limits to public access de facto obligations to pay for health services," it said.
    The report said the average Italian's out-of-pocket spending on health care has increased by over 80 euros between 2013 and 2015, taking it up to 569 euros. It said 7.1 million people has used the option to pay for private care at public clinics over the last year, saying that in 66.4% of cases this was done to get around long waiting lists. On the other hand, according to the study, 5.4 million Italians were prescribed tests, treatments, medicines or examinations that turned out to be unnecessary. That said, 53% of people surveyed in a poll for the study said they were against imposing penalties on doctors who give unnecessary prescriptions.