Italy’s army will be stationed at a hospital in the Calabria region to protect medical staff from violent attacks by patients and their relatives. Prefect Paolo Giovanni Grieco approved a plan to enhance existing surveillance services with soldiers in Vibo Valentia, including the hospital. Southern Italy has seen a rise in assaults on healthcare workers, prompting the national doctors’ guild to request military intervention for staff safety.
A significant incident at the Policlinico hospital in Foggia triggered this decision, where a group of individuals attacked hospital staff after a young woman passed away during emergency surgery. Disturbing video footage circulated on social media showed medical personnel barricading themselves in a room to avoid the violence. The hospital director even considered closing the emergency room following three similar attacks in less than a week.
Reports indicate over 16,000 cases of physical and verbal assaults on healthcare workers in Italy in 2023 alone, leading to calls for urgent action. Nursing Up union president Antonio De Palma highlighted the unprecedented levels of aggression, emphasizing the necessity for immediate measures such as military protection in hospitals. The Italian Federation of Medical-Scientific Societies proposed harsh penalties for offenders, including a three-year suspension of free medical care for those attacking healthcare workers or causing damage.
Issues like understaffing and long patient waiting lists have fueled frustration among individuals seeking healthcare services. Nearly half of emergency medicine positions in Italy remained unfilled in 2022, with low wages and overworked staff contributing to the challenges faced by hospitals. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has further strained the healthcare system, leading many professionals to seek opportunities abroad.
In 2023, Italy faced a shortage of around 30,000 doctors, with the closure of numerous hospitals and emergency rooms between 2010 and 2020. The combination of staffing shortages, legislative constraints, and pandemic pressures has created a volatile environment for healthcare workers in Italy, necessitating robust measures to ensure their safety and well-being.
