The prospect of new cuts in health care triggers the protest of the Regions, which form a wall against the Government. In view of the Stability law, to make ends meet by the October 15 deadline, the Executive is looking for 20 billion, resources should come from semi-linear cuts to ministries, called for a budget reduction that averages around 3%. And health care spending is one of the main items in the Treasury's sights.
“If there are cuts to health care, the pact of honor signed on August 5 will disappear – he thundered Sergio Chiamparino, president of the Conference of Regions and Pd governor of Piedmont -. If it breaks, the relationship of trust and collaboration is lost. The pact for health has committed us, by 31 December, to writing plans for the reorganization of health services and has provided for a fund of 109 billion euros, with an increase of about 2 and a half billion more per year for 2015 and 2016”.
The hypothesis in circulation speaks of a reduction of three billion euros to the National Health Fund, which amounts to over 109 billion for the current year, approximately 111,6 billion for 2015 and 115,4 billion for 2016. Palazzo Chigi assures that “no one wants to cut healthcare, but no one wants to waste”. The Government claims that it does not want to touch services, but that it aims to reduce only unproductive spending, especially as regards the purchase of goods and services. “Reviewing spending does not mean cutting health care – wrote Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Twitter -. But the Regions, before making proclamations, start spending the money they have well ”.
“I note it with satisfaction – replied Chiamparino -, but I want to clarify that it is one thing to say that we need to save in healthcare through reorganization and modernization, and we are committed to this with the Health Pact. If you want to reduce the fund, however, we will oppose it”.
More conciliatory tones also came from the governor of Veneto, the Northern League Luca Zaia: “We take note of the government's clarification and of the fact that spending will therefore be cut where supplies cost from 100 to 600% more than in the Veneto region. However, the method for doing this is extremely simple: apply the standard costs by taking the virtuous Regions as the basis of the calculation. We are awaiting facts and not tweets, however we will monitor, notoriously trusting the announcements of this Government ".
The president of the Campania Region also refers to compliance with the agreements Stefano Caldoro: “On health care I want to say only one thing: in the last period we have reached some important agreements with the government. Now they must be respected. We are not ready to face all the talks and commitments we have made about efficiency”.
