The figures that don’t add up for Schillaci

The Health Minister is asking for 5.5 billion for the Health Fund, and the government is granting 2.4. The regions wanted 6.8. The Fund rises to 146.3 billion, an increase of 3.4 compared to 2026, but one billion had already been allocated in the previous budget. It will be said that money is not infinite, as Giorgetti has been repeating for months. That is true. But that is precisely why choices matter, and this budget prioritises what is immediately visible. The regions, which actually manage waiting lists and A&E departments, were asking for almost three times that amount: if those were inflated estimates, the government should explain how the same services can be guaranteed with the current allocations. Some analysts note that more could have been invested in the Health Fund and that the €300 payment for those over 75 could have been avoided, freeing up 1.6 billion, roughly two-thirds of the planned increase. The voucher merely allows individuals to purchase what the National Health Service cannot provide, leaving the underlying problem unresolved – it is akin to telling a tenant with a leaky roof that a free umbrella is available. The same pattern applies to the fund for newborns: 100 euros a year, the same for everyone, plus a 19 per cent tax deduction that risks rewarding those who already have something to put aside. A bonus helps out, but it is no substitute for policy.

This is not Schillaci’s first disappointment. The reform of general practice that bore his name, despite having the support of the regions, was blocked in Parliament by his own majority. Being a technical minister may well have its advantages, but when it comes to deciding whose voice carries the most weight at a time of tight resources, having the backing of a party still counts for a lot. The minister cannot remain the sole defender of the public health service while the rest of the government hands out bonuses. One is tempted to say: come on, Orazio!