google.com, pub-3998556743903564, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 Italian Village Ban Residents From Falling Sick

Italian Village Ban Residents From Falling Sick

A small Italian village has humorously "banned" its residents from becoming seriously ill, highlighting the dire state of its healthcare system. Belcastro, located in Calabria, one of Italy's poorest regions, has issued a decree ordering residents to "avoid contracting illnesses requiring emergency medical assistance," according to Mayor Antonio Torchia.

Mayor Torchia clarified that the decree is a "humorous provocation," designed to draw attention to the village's healthcare challenges, which his previous urgent notices to regional authorities failed to resolve. With approximately half of Belcastro’s 1,200 residents aged over 65, the nearest Accident & Emergency (A&E) department is over 45km (28 miles) away, accessible only via a road with a 30km/h (18mph) speed limit.

The village's on-call doctor service operates sporadically, providing no coverage on weekends, holidays, or outside normal hours. Torchia expressed concerns during a television interview, stating it’s difficult to "feel safe when assistance depends on reaching A&E in time," adding that the poor road infrastructure poses as much risk as illness itself.

As part of the decree, residents are advised to avoid behaviors that could lead to injury, steer clear of domestic accidents, minimize travel, and prioritize rest. Enforcement of these rules remains uncertain.

The decree sheds light on Calabria's long-standing healthcare crisis. Years of political mismanagement and mafia interference have severely weakened the region's medical infrastructure, which has been under central government administration for nearly 15 years. Hospitals face crippling debt, a lack of medical personnel and equipment, and lengthy waiting lists. Since 2009, 18 hospitals in the region have closed, forcing nearly half of Calabria’s two million residents to seek medical care elsewhere.

In 2022, Cuba agreed to send 497 doctors to Calabria over three years to address staffing shortages. Regional governor Roberto Occhiuto credited these doctors with "saving" the region’s hospitals.

Belcastro residents have largely supported Mayor Torchia’s initiative. Some have praised him for drawing attention to the critical issue, with one resident saying, "He used a provocative decree to attract attention to a serious problem," adding that it may "shake consciences" and spark action.

 

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