“5-day isolation even without a negative test for asymptomatic positives” – Corriere.it

Shorter isolation, from 7 to 5 days, for asymptomatic positives, even in the absence of a negative swab. “We are ready to switch to the new model. Let’s evaluate which is the correct tool to implement it. Perhaps a circular will not be enough», clarifies the Minister of Health Orazio Schillaci with a practical sense. And he adds: «It is clear that those who come out of isolation without the diagnostic test will have to have a sense of responsibility and wear a mask in case of contact with fragile people. We focus on persuasion not on obligations ».

Another step towards normalization?

«In Italy there is an excess of tampons. In the United Kingdom and Spain, and I mean two governments politically opposed, they have already moved to this stage. It is not an ideological but a pragmatic choice”.

Easing the measures now that the infections are rising again?

“It’s not a slack. We adapt to the now endemic virus, with which we must learn to live with. We continue to follow the epidemic closely. For now, there are no signs of concern. The cases have risen, it is true, but there is no pressure on hospitals, where admissions to ordinary wards and intensive care units remain stable. Having abolished the daily bulletin does not mean having let our guard down. Divulging all those numbers day by day made no sense.

Confusion has been made about the anti-Covid vaccine. Undersecretary Gemmato said there is no proof he spared thousands of deaths.

“Then he corrected it. Vaccines are essential, their effectiveness should not be questioned. Tomorrow the ministry’s new campaign on the fourth dose starts, recommended to the frail together with the anti-flu which has already begun to show itself aggressive this year. We prepared it in record time and I don’t know that the second recall has ever been encouraged».

Regions disappointed by the financial maneuver that relegates health care to a corner. On December 15, the medical and veterinary unions take to the streets so that “real resources are allocated to the health of citizens”.

«The funds for Health have never been so high, over 134 billion in total. For 2023, 2.3 billion are allocated, in addition to the two already planned by the Draghi government. All this in a difficult phase characterized by Covid, the war in Ukraine and the consequent increase in energy costs. It is clear that the most important part will be used to cover the costs of hospital and local health bills. However, many signs of interest in other emergencies must be grasped ».

“Forty million every year, from 2023 to 2025, to combat the very serious phenomenon of resistance to misused antibiotics, 150 to pharmacies”.

Then the 200 million for incentives for emergency room operators and, starting from 2024 alone, 60 for doctors, 140 for staff. A sop?

«We are making sure to bring them forward to 2023. It is a crucial problem, the staff is going ahead with a bare-bones workforce, supporting an immense workload. I am well aware that incentives are not enough, more will be needed. Medicine graduates choose less stressful specializations and emergency medicine has no reinforcements so much so that the calls for tenders for recruitment are deserted. We need to make it more attractive while also guaranteeing safety in the emergency rooms”.

And what does it answer to the Regions that are beating cash?

«In a next meeting we will do the math carefully to calculate the deficit linked to the costs of Covid. Some say it is 3.8 billion. In reality, I think there are fewer of them and from here we could obtain greater resources to gratify healthcare workers, not just emergency workers. The health service must be made more attractive.

Healthcare in the area, each government has promised to strengthen it to relieve congestion in hospitals where the emergency rooms are congested and the number of beds in the wards is always insufficient. On the field, however, the situation does not change. Why should there be a breakthrough now?

«The funds allocated by the Pnrr are aimed at the construction of community houses. The real problem is integration with family doctors and pharmacies and staffing. We would like to make them reference centers for those chronic patients who should not end up in hospital, as is the case now”.

The Italian Medicines Agency (Aifa) is destined for spoils system. Change in sight in the general management?

“Parliament is currently amending the Statute. I’m interested in streamlining bureaucracy because the ultimate goal is to speed up the authorization of drugs whose times are not in line with the EU. There will be no commissioner.”