Problems in Health Care

Abstract

We describe the features of a crisis of health care in this transition period, with particular reference to the surgical services in a Regional Hospital. Some of those characteristics are: the shortcomings of primary health care; the weak functioning of the regional health care network; the insufficient availability of surgical rooms, equipment, medicines, budgetary resources; the relative lack of anesthesiologists. In the current year, 2005, the number of surgical interventions done shows a serious reduction in comparison with the previous trend. This finding is, at least in part, a consequence of defective planning of the development of our Public Hospitals. The need for a discussion and comparison of such situations is suggested.