Schillaci: the platform to monitor waiting lists in real time is online

“From today, citizens will be able to access the Agenas platform to see the waiting times on a national basis for visits and diagnostic tests”. This was announced by the Minister of Health, Orazio Schillaci, who is meeting with the presidents of the Regions to implement the system, reduce waiting times and guarantee equal access to patients. “A joint effort is needed - he added - in which we all have to play a part. There is an improvement, but it is not enough, we want to help the Regions and ensure that the NHS offers citizens the services they need”. In the dashboard you can see the waiting times for some visits and for diagnostics, “it is a first step and then we will continue with other expansions. We finally have the possibility to monitor in real time what is happening and to intervene on delays”.

During Question Time at the Chamber, the minister also highlighted the other steps taken to reduce waiting lists. “Let's start from what already exists and works - added Schillaci - Article 3 paragraph 8 of Legislative Decree 73/2024 has established a clear principle: for chronic-degenerative and oncological pathologies, privileged pathways are needed. No more undifferentiated queues, but dedicated agendas through the Pdta, the diagnostic-therapeutic-assistance pathways. Management can be directed by the reference specialist or by the dedicated structure of the ASL. Organizational flexibility with a precise objective: to guarantee access to the necessary services”. Schillaci underlined that “several Regions and autonomous Provinces are experimenting with the Pacc, Complex and coordinated outpatient pathway. A model that follows the Day Service. It is not science fiction: in many territories it is already a reality. And this model will be regulated in the general principles of the Agreement for the updating of the National Government Waiting List Plan 2025-2027, which is currently being examined by the State-Regions Conference”.

The minister also spoke about digital healthcare. “The electronic health record represents a great opportunity to finally overcome territorial gaps,” he said during Question Time. “It’s not just digitalization, it’s healthcare democracy. This is why we will continue to encourage the less advanced regions to adopt specific awareness campaigns for citizens.” According to the minister, “digital healthcare only works if it becomes a shared heritage for the entire country.” “To increase the participation of the regions,” continued Schillaci, “we have put concrete resources on the table: over 600 million euros distributed in 2022. Funds earmarked both for strengthening the digital infrastructure and for increasing the digital skills of healthcare professionals.” The implementation of the Record will take place progressively and “by March 31, 2026, we will have complete content and automatic feeding within five days of the introduction of the service.”

In reference to recent news that an elderly lady was asked to contribute to the repair of the electric wheelchair assigned by the healthcare company, Schillaci clarified that “the assisted person should not be asked to contribute to the cost of repairs or replacements of the components of electric wheelchairs. If this is happening, it means that someone is not applying the current regulations correctly. And this is not acceptable”. For the minister, “the rights of people with disabilities cannot be subordinated to discretionary interpretations”. Schillaci recalled that the tender specifications must mandatorily provide that the winning suppliers provide “three fundamental guarantees: the adaptation or customization of the devices by qualified healthcare professionals, ordinary maintenance and the repair or replacement of the components”.

The last topic addressed in the Chamber concerned Hikikomori, or the social isolation of young people. “It is necessary to prevent discomfort, building the necessary psychological antibodies in young people,” said Schillaci. “The collaborative network works. We have consolidated the collaboration between institutions, professionals, families and, fundamentally, the young people themselves and the results have allowed us to activate an interregional surveillance system that will not stop here.” Schillaci recalled that “memoranda of understanding have been signed with the Authority for the Protection of Children and Adolescents, with Unicef ​​and with the Ministry of Education.” The Ministry of Health “always pays great attention to the psycho-physical health of children and adolescents but everyone’s intervention is needed. We will continue to invest in prevention, training and territorial networks.”