Italy’s healthcare system may itself be the country’s sickest patient. The latest Pit Salute 2026 report by citizens’ advocacy group Cittadinanzattiva highlights a healthcare network under mounting structural pressure, with growing difficulties in providing timely access to medical care.
The report suggests that the main problem is no longer the quality or safety of treatment, but the ability of patients to receive essential services within the deadlines set by the health system.
The figures are striking. An urgent colonoscopy, which should be carried out within 72 hours, can take up to a month to schedule. The situation is even more severe for mammograms: exams that should be performed within ten days may require a wait of more than 100 days, while routine screenings can be delayed by as much as sixteen months.
Nearly half of the more than 14,000 complaints collected during 2025 concerned specialist appointments and diagnostic tests. Cardiology, ophthalmology, gynaecology and even oncology services are all reporting waiting times that far exceed the priorities indicated in medical prescriptions.
Beyond waiting lists, another major concern is the weakness of community healthcare services. Increasing numbers of citizens report difficulties contacting family doctors, accessing mental health support, securing home care or obtaining adequate assistance for elderly people with long-term care needs.