Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Indiscriminate cuts threaten Italy's healthcare successes

A coma patient lies in bed at Sant'Anna hospital in Crotone By Gavin Jones CROTONE, Italy (Reuters) - When an inter-city bus smashed into Giovannina Caprara's car five years ago, she was fortunate to be admitted to coma rehabilitation clinic Istituto Sant'Anna, a rare world class medical institution in one of Europe's poorest regions. Despite its excellence, Sant'Anna is struggling to maintain its services because of Italy's decision to handle its public finance problems with indiscriminate, "linear" spending cuts that are being imposed across the board regardless of the quality of its medical care. Giovannina, 49, is cared for at home by her daughter Maria Teresa and husband Domenico, while doctors supervise from Sant'Anna 40 miles away. "We've been very lucky, the clinic has been wonderful," Maria Teresa, 30, told Reuters during a recent visit.








via Health News Headlines - Yahoo News http://ift.tt/1CoiLTe

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