ROME - Thousands of Italian doctors and nurses stayed at home on Wednesday to protest over their pay and conditions in the latest sign of malaise in the country's struggling health sector.
Italy spends about 6.2% of gross domestic product on its national health service, well below a European Union average of 6.8%, and health spending per capita is the lowest among the Group of Seven wealthy democracies, according to data by Italian health think-tank Gimbe. Pledges to boost the public health service in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic have not been kept and growing hospital waiting lists force increasing numbers of Italians to turn to private clinics for treatment.
Underscoring the difficulties facing many Italian hospitals, the southern region of Calabria has signed a deal to draft in almost 500 medics from Cuba over three years to help overcome a severe staffing shortage.