World
January 8, 2025 07:00
belcastro, italy - Antonio Torchia, the mayor of Belcastro in Italy, has announced a ban on falling severely ill in the village, where most residents are over 65 years old. This unusual measure aims to draw attention to the challenges faced by the local healthcare system.
Antonio Torchia, the mayor of Belcastro in Italy, has made a peculiar announcement by banning the residents of the village from falling severely ill. Belcastro, located in the southern region of Calabria, known as one of the poorest areas in Italy, has a population of 1,200 people, majority of whom are over the age of 65. Torchia declared that getting seriously ill to the extent of requiring urgent medical intervention is prohibited in the village.
The mayor describes this ban as a 'jocular provocation'. According to Torchia, this prohibition is more effective in alerting regional authorities to the issues faced by the local healthcare system.
With the nearest emergency care unit being 45 km away, reached through a road where the maximum speed allowed is 30 km/h, Torchia emphasizes that the journey to access medical assistance is as risky as any disease.
Torchia also points out that the sole doctor's practice in the village operates irregularly, not providing services on weekends, holidays, and outside regular working hours. The ban announced by the mayor includes activities that may lead to household accidents, leaving the house, traveling, or engaging in sports. The implementation and enforcement of these new rules remain uncertain.
The healthcare system in Calabria has been severely affected by poor management and mafia interference. Therefore, the central government took over the management of the region's healthcare system 15 years ago. However, the officials appointed by Rome struggled to cope with high levels of debt in hospitals. This led to a shortage of medical staff and beds in the area.
Since 2009, 18 hospitals in the region have been closed down, resulting in nearly half of the two million inhabitants seeking healthcare in other regions. It was announced that Cuba would send 497 doctors to the region in 2022. Regional Governor Roberto Occhiuto stated that these doctors saved the hospitals in Calabria last year.
The residents of Belcastro believe that Torchia has raised a valid point with this ban.