ROME – Thousands of doctors, nurses, and health workers across Italy went on strike on November 20 to protest against low pay and poor working conditions, marking the latest in a series of challenges facing the country’s struggling healthcare system.
Unions representing healthcare professionals argue that Italy’s government has failed to allocate sufficient funds for essential hiring and salary increases, particularly as the country faces the pressures of an aging population that demands more healthcare services. Italy spends about 6.2% of its GDP on the national health service, which is below the European Union average of 6.8%. According to data from the Italian health think-tank Gimbe, the country’s per capita health spending is the lowest among the G7 nations.
The strike, coordinated by the three major unions – Anaao Assomed, Cimo-Fesmed, and Nursing Up – saw up to 85% of workers staying home, signaling strong dissatisfaction within the workforce. However, essential health services were maintained during the protest.
Health Minister Orazio Schillaci stated that the government remains committed to addressing the concerns of health workers and resolving issues. Despite this, pledges made after the COVID-19 pandemic to improve public healthcare have not been fulfilled, leading to longer waiting times in hospitals and a growing reliance on private clinics for treatment.
The government’s multi-year economic plan for 2025 maintains public health spending at the current level of 6.2% of GDP, a figure that unions argue is insufficient. Meanwhile, regions like Calabria are resorting to hiring foreign workers, such as nearly 500 doctors from Cuba, to address severe staffing shortages.
As the government tightens its budget to meet EU financial rules, it faces growing worker protests, including planned strikes by railway workers and a broader general strike scheduled for November 29. These actions are part of a wider backlash against austerity measures in the 2025 budget, which seeks to reduce Italy’s fiscal deficit from 3.8% to 3.3% of GDP.