Italian doctors may go on strike to protest against a new government decree that seeks to reduce the number of unnecessary tests and treatments, Costantino Troise, the head of physicians union ANAAO, said on Wednesday. "Action is already taking place and this could lead to a strike of the whole Italian health world," said Troise, who described the decree as "wrong". The decree that the government is planning would impose fines on doctors who prescribe "useless" examinations and medical checks at an estimate cost to the national health service of 13 billion euros a year.
The left-wing Fp-Cgil Medici union and the Federation of Family doctors Fimmg called the proposed legislation "a real devaluation of the role of health professionals".
They said that they were "sharply against" the proposed decree after meeting Health minister Beatrice Lorenzin on Wednesday.
A preliminary version of the decree puts limits on the use of 208 different types of examination.
These include limits on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, which would be restricted to cancer patients and those suffering traumas, and on total cholesterol tests, which should only be for people over 40 or those with specific risk factors.
"Many tests prescribed by doctors have been cut because they are useless and cutting them will make room for appropriate diagnosis prescriptions, without those that are not necessary," Lorenzin told Mediaset television. "We are not launching a doctor hunt. The fine would not kick in after an individual error, but after a series of cases that can be shown. "The penalty will only be applied if the doctor is unable to justify the decision". But the unions remain on the war path, despite Lorenzin's reassurances. "We expressed our bewilderment and opposition, especially with regard to the idea of fining doctors financially," said FP-CGIL leader Massimo Cozza after meeting Lorenzin "This would be a mechanism that could smash the relationship between doctors and patients".
Both unions cautioned that they will step up industrial action against the government unless the measures are dropped.
"We will widen our mobilization ... against doctors being treated like criminals," said Silvestro Scotti from the Fimmg.
Doctors also oppose the proposed law as they say it would mean patients paying for more services and because it would be impossible for regional health authorities to enforce. The doctors have won the support of patients associations.
"It is necessary to discuss joint initiatives to combat the prospect of doctors being transformed into a sort of clerk," said Tonino Aceti of the Tribunale dei Diritti del Malato Cittadinanzattiva association.
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