Lombards Reject Regional Health, 56% Disapprove
Lombardy Healthcare System Under Fire: Majority Expresses Dissatisfaction
Table of Contents
Milan, 2025-03-16 – A recent survey indicates that a significant portion of Lombardy residents are dissatisfied with the state of their healthcare system. The poll, conducted in early march by Youtrend on behalf of the Regional Group of the Democratic Party (PD), reveals that 56% of lombardy citizens hold a negative view of the region’s healthcare.
Key Findings of the Healthcare Survey
The survey, presented at the Feltrinelli Foundation in Milan during a regional healthcare conference titled ‘Health is a Right,’ highlights a growing concern among residents regarding the quality and accessibility of healthcare services.
- Decline in Quality: A striking 56% believe that Lombardy’s healthcare has deteriorated over the past two decades.
- Access to Care: Fewer than 2 in 10 Lombardy residents think healthcare has improved since 2005.
- Long Wait Times: The most pressing issue identified is the difficulty in obtaining timely medical visits and examinations due to excessively long waiting lists. This concern was cited as the most urgent by 57% of respondents, with 84% mentioning it as a major problem.
- Staff Shortages: the survey also points to a shortage of doctors,medical personnel,and general practitioners as significant challenges facing the healthcare system.
Duty for Healthcare Issues
The survey sheds light on where Lombardy residents place the blame for the current healthcare challenges:
- Regional Government: the regional government is held responsible for long waiting lists (57%),the excessive influence of private healthcare (62%),and overly complex booking procedures (59%).
- national Government: The national government is blamed for the shortage of doctors and medical personnel (58%).
- Shared responsibility: The absence of general practitioners is attributed almost equally to both the regional and national governments.
Government Performance Under Scrutiny
When asked to evaluate the performance of the government and the region over the past two years, Lombardy residents expressed dissatisfaction with both. Negative opinions were voiced by 69% regarding the government and 60% concerning the region. judgments on the performance of local municipalities were more balanced, although 30% did not respond, likely due to the limited direct responsibility of municipalities in healthcare matters.
Political Reactions and Future Actions
gian Mario Fragomeli, regional councilor of the PD, commented on the survey results, stating:
“La storia che la sanità lombarda sia la migliore d’Italia è ormai finita. lo dicono i dati del Ministero della Salute, ma, per la prima volta, lo affermano anche i lombardi, che bocciano Fontana e la sua Giunta di destra per una gestione che abbandona i cittadini a se stessi, anzi, al ricatto ‘vuoi farti curare? Paga’. Un altro aspetto che è emerso dalla due giorni, è che sempre più lombardi vanno addirittura a farsi curare fuori regione, e non era mai successo.La Regione deve pagare mezzo miliardo di euro l’anno per queste cure ricevute fuori dai propri confini, una cifra enorme. Questa situazione deve cambiare, Fontana ci deve ascoltare.”
Gian Mario Fragomeli, Regional Councilor of the PD
Fragomeli further emphasized the need to rebuild territorial healthcare and reinvest in public healthcare. He added that private groups should prioritize the needs of Lombardy residents over profits.
“Bisogna ricostruire la sanità territoriale e tornare a investire sulla sanità pubblica, e ai grandi gruppi privati bisogna chiedere di fare ciò che serve ai lombardi, non ai loro profitti. Tra una settimana arriverà in Commissione Sanità la legge di iniziativa popolare su cui abbiamo raccolto 100mila firme. Lanciamo da qui, dalla nostra conferenza regionale, una nuova stagione di mobilitazione che inizierà già dal prossimo weekend, perché alla destra bisogna dire che bisogna cambiare.”
Gian Mario Fragomeli, Regional Councilor of the PD
A popular initiative law, supported by 100,000 signatures, is expected to reach the Health Commission in a week. A new wave of mobilization is planned, starting next weekend, to advocate for change in the region’s healthcare policies.
lombardy Healthcare System Under Scrutiny: A Q&A Guide
Recent surveys reveal growing dissatisfaction with Lombardy’s healthcare system. This Q&A explores the key issues and potential solutions.
Q1: What is the current state of public opinion regarding healthcare in Lombardy?
A: A recent survey conducted in early March 2025 by youtrend on behalf of the Regional group of the Democratic Party (PD) indicates that 56% of Lombardy residents hold a negative view of the region’s healthcare system. This dissatisfaction highlights a growing concern about the quality and accessibility of healthcare services in the region.
Q2: What are the main concerns of lombardy residents regarding their healthcare system?
A: The survey identified several key concerns:
Decline in Quality: 56% of residents believe Lombardy’s healthcare has deteriorated over the past two decades.
Access to Care: Fewer than 2 in 10 residents think healthcare has improved since 2005.
Long Wait Times: This is the most pressing issue, with 57% of respondents citing difficulty in obtaining timely medical visits and examinations due to excessively long waiting lists. 84% mentioned it as a major problem.
Staff Shortages: The survey also points to a shortage of doctors, medical personnel, and general practitioners.
Q3: Who do Lombardy residents blame for the current healthcare challenges?
A: Residents place blame on both regional and national governments:
Regional Government: Blamed for long waiting lists (57%), the excessive influence of private healthcare (62%), and overly complex booking procedures (59%).
National Government: Blamed for the shortage of doctors and medical personnel (58%).
Shared Responsibility: The absence of general practitioners is attributed almost equally to both the regional and national governments.
Q4: How do Lombardy residents rate the performance of their government and region regarding healthcare?
A: Lombardy residents expressed dissatisfaction with both the government and the region’s performance over the past two years. negative opinions were voiced by 69% regarding the government and 60% concerning the region. Judgments on the performance of local municipalities were more balanced,although 30% did not respond,likely due to the limited direct responsibility of municipalities in healthcare matters.
Q5: What are the political reactions to the survey results?
A: Gian Mario Fragomeli, a regional councilor of the PD, commented that Lombardy’s healthcare system is no longer the best in Italy, citing data from the ministry of Health and the opinions of Lombardy residents. He criticized the current management for abandoning citizens and pushing them towards private healthcare. Fragomeli also noted the increasing number of Lombardy residents seeking treatment outside the region, costing the region a significant amount annually.
Q6: What actions are being proposed to address the issues in Lombardy’s healthcare system?
A: Fragomeli is advocating for:
Rebuilding territorial healthcare.
Reinvesting in public healthcare.
Ensuring private groups prioritize the needs of Lombardy residents over profits.
He is supporting a popular initiative law,backed by 100,000 signatures,which is expected to reach the Health Commission soon.
A new wave of mobilization is planned to advocate for change in the region’s healthcare policies.
Q7: Are Lombardy residents seeking healthcare services outside of the Lombardy region?
A: Yes.According to Gian Mario Fragomeli, an increasing number of Lombardy residents are seeking treatment outside the region. This is costing the region approximately half a billion euros per year for these out-of-region treatments.
Q8: What specific issues contribute to long wait times in the Lombardy healthcare system?
A: The survey indicates that the regional government receives the most blame for long waiting lists. This problem is linked to a lack of resources to cover public care,excessive influence of private healthcare and overly complex booking procedures.
Q9: What potential impact does staff shortage have on lombardy Healthcare System?
A: The National Government is mostly blamed for the shortage of doctors, medical personnel and general practitioners across Lombardy. staff shortages could lead to reduced access to care, longer wait times, increased workload for existing staff, and possibly lower quality of care.
Q10: Does the Assolombarda play any role in the Lombardy Healthcare System?
A: yes. Assolombarda has a healthcare network called Health Lombardy composed of associated healthcare facilities. Health Lombardy aims at positioning Lombardy and Milan healthcare in the Global environment.