There is a shortage of over 3,100 general practitioners, with more critical situations in the large Northern regions.
The estimate is from the Gimbe Foundation based on data referring to January 1, 2023, according to which the shortage is precisely 3,114 family doctors: in Lombardy (-1,237), Veneto (-609), Emilia Romagna (-418), Piedmont (-296), as well as in Campania (-381).
Gimbe's calculations are based on the ratio of 1 general practitioner for every 1,250 patients (average value between the ceiling of 1,500 and the current optimal ratio of 1,000) and use the findings of the interregional healthcare structure with agreements.
Furthermore, according to data provided by the Italian Federation of General Practitioners, between 2023 and 2026 there are 11,439 GPs who have turned or will turn 70, thus reaching the maximum retirement age.
"The alarm about the shortage of general practitioners - states Nino Cartabellotta, president of the Gimbe Foundation - today concerns all the Regions and is the result of inadequate planning which has not guaranteed generational turnover in relation to expected retirements. So today it often becomes a "It's a challenge to be able to choose a GP close to home, with consequent inconvenience and health risks, especially for the elderly and frail."
Therefore, taking into account the expected retirements and the number of scholarships financed for the training course in general medicine - highlights Gimbe - the shortage of family doctors has been estimated for 2026, the year in which the healthcare reform should 'take off' territorial envisaged by the Pnrr.
Considering the ordinary retirement age of 70 years and the number of scholarships advertised for the years 2020-2023 including those of the Calabria Decree for which candidates have presented themselves, in 2026 the number of GPs will decrease on average by 135 units compared to 2022, but with clear regional differences.
In particular, all the Southern Regions (except Molise) will suffer the greatest reduction in mmg in 2026: Campania (-384), Puglia (-175), Sicily (-155), Calabria (-135), Abruzzo (- 47), Basilicata (-35), Sardinia (-9,) as well as Lazio (-231), Liguria (-36) and Friuli Venezia Giulia (-22).
Reproduction reserved © Copyright ANSA