Although health protection is enshrined as a fundamental right in the Italian Constitution and the National Health Service is based on a universalistic principle, access to care remains a problem for a significant part of the population. This is highlighted by the new report on poverty released by Caritas Italiana, according to which in 2024 more than six million citizens had to forego necessary health care services. The difficulties relate in particular to long waiting lists and the cost of care, which is often too high for families with fewer resources. Among those assisted by Caritas, nearly 16% have health vulnerabilities, many of them related to serious illnesses and the difficulty of receiving an adequate response from the public system. According to the report, the situation has worsened compared to 2023 and also compared to the pre-Covid period, aided by growing economic hardship and bureaucratic difficulties related to booking visits.