Health Minister Orazio Schillaci on
Thursday said only 1% of healthcare personnel participated in a
24-hour strike called by unions representing Italian doctors and
nurses the previous day to protest against the government's 2025
budget bill.
"The numbers published on the website of the Department of
public function point to a small adhesion, just over 1%, to
yesterday's strike called by some unions", said Schillaci.
"The percentage is far from the one declared by the
organizations and it's actually in line with that of a strike
organized last year by the same unions", which was around 3%,
said the health minister.
Schillaci also said amendments were being considered by the
Lower House's budget commission, including to raise specific
allowances for those working for the national healthcare system
and to possibly exempt them from taxes, speaking at the 2024
Healthcare Summit of financial daily Sole 24 Ore.
Unions representing Italian doctors and nurses said the
nationwide 24-hour strike called on Wednesday was respected by
huge numbers of the country's health workers.
The Anaao Assomed, Cimo-Fesmed and Nursing Up unions said 85% of
medical personnel participated in some parts of the country.
The unions say the budget allocates "insufficient resources"to
pay rises to staff and complain about an overall lack of
investment in healthcare funding.
Healthcare personnel also protested, among other things, over
the lack of resources to immediately hire more healthcare
workers and the absence of measures to boost security personnel
at Italian hospitals after a wave of assaults reported over the
past few months in Italy.
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