Arezzo ER outsourcing sparks concern: Falchi calls for structural reform in public staffing

Arezzo, June 30, 2026 – Lorenzo Falchi, regional councilor for Alleanza Verdi e Sinistra (AVS), has filed a parliamentary question regarding the decision by the Local Health Authority of Southeast Tuscany (ASL Toscana Sud Est) to outsource the management of low-priority emergency codes at the San Donato Hospital in Arezzo to a temporary association of third-sector entities. The contract, worth approximately 570,000 euros per year, aims to address overcrowding and the shortage of emergency physicians. Falchi expressed concern that such outsourcing represents an emergency measure that cannot substitute for structural solutions.

Falchi acknowledged the historical and systemic difficulties faced by the regional health service, including growing health needs, economic constraints, and strict spending limits imposed by national governments. However, he argued that introducing a third party into the patient-public provider relationship fragments care and raises doubts about cost-effectiveness compared to direct hiring. He stressed that while the regional health councilor Monia Monni has described the measure as temporary, clear medium- and long-term planning is essential.

The councilor called on the Tuscany Region to specify how and when it intends to invest in public healthcare personnel, particularly in critical medical and nursing areas. He emphasized the need to move beyond annual stopgap measures and ensure that emergency departments and other essential health facilities are managed entirely by the public sector. Falchi warned that without such a shift, the universality and equity of the Tuscan health system could be undermined.

In his parliamentary question, Falchi requested the release of initial data from the pilot project, the criteria for measuring outcomes, and details on care provided during hours not covered by the agreement. He reiterated the urgency of defending the public nature of healthcare and called for a structural turnaround in public staffing. The outsourcing trend, he said, must not become permanent.

Falchi concluded by urging the regional government to prioritize direct employment and long-term investment over temporary contracts. He stressed that only a fully public health service can guarantee equal access and quality care for all citizens, and that the current path risks eroding public trust and system sustainability.