Health professions reform, Gimbe warns: without funding the exodus from Italy’s NHS will continue

Italy’s health professions reform is being described as a final opportunity that risks being wasted. According to the Gimbe Foundation, the principles outlined in the government’s draft law are largely sound, but the absence of dedicated financial resources makes it unlikely to stop the growing exodus of professionals from the National Health Service (SSN).

During a parliamentary hearing, Gimbe highlighted that Italy does not suffer from an overall shortage of doctors, ranking among the top OECD countries in terms of physicians per capita. The problem is structural and selective: tens of thousands of doctors do not work within the SSN, while shortages persist in general practice and less attractive specialties.

The situation is even more critical for nurses. Italy ranks near the bottom in Europe for nursing staff per capita, and applications to nursing degree programs have fallen below available places. This signals a deep crisis in professional attractiveness that the reform fails to address.

Gimbe also raised concerns about professional liability rules. Equating clinical guidelines with less rigorous best practices could weaken legal protections for healthcare workers and increase uncertainty in court decisions.

At the core of the problem lies chronic underinvestment. Between 2012 and 2024, the share of health spending allocated to staff fell significantly, resulting in an estimated €33 billion loss for the workforce. Without new, earmarked resources and a long-term strategy, Gimbe warns, the reform risks becoming a purely formal exercise, unable to safeguard the future of Italy’s National Health Service.