After years of criticism, Italy’s healthcare system is showing signs of improvement in reducing waiting times for medical services. According to Health Minister Orazio Schillaci, the early months of 2026 have seen a significant increase in the number of procedures delivered within legally required timeframes.

Diagnostic tests performed on time have reached 87.2%, while specialist visits stand at 80.9%. These figures are considered more reliable than in the past, following efforts to eliminate distortions such as artificially closed booking lists and delayed scheduling practices.

Several regions have implemented effective strategies. Liguria, for instance, improved performance by 40% through actively recalling patients who missed appointments, while Piedmont expanded clinic hours into evenings and weekends.

Despite progress, a substantial share of urgent cases is still not handled within required deadlines. A major issue remains the overprescription of unnecessary tests and visits, estimated at around 20% of total demand and costing the system approximately €20 billion annually.

To address these challenges, the government plans to introduce clearer clinical guidelines and improve the management of chronic patients, aiming to reduce reliance on central booking systems and streamline care pathways.