by Carmelo Caspanello
PALERMO – The Regional Council appointed the new general directors of Sicily’s healthcare and hospital companies in the afternoon, with the aim of giving new stability to the regional healthcare system and drastically reducing waiting lists. They were appointed last January and have remained in office since then. The nomination came in the aftermath of the European elections. The novelty is represented by the introduction of a new contract scheme which strictly links tenure to the achievement of specific and concrete objectives, especially on the reduction of waiting lists. Managers will be subjected to quarterly monitoring and annual verification of the achievement of objectives: in case of failure to comply, automatic forfeiture will be triggered, even after the first year of taking office.
“Clear objectives and constant checks”
“Giving new stability to regional public health and breaking down waiting lists are two of the main commitments undertaken by my government since it took office,” declared the President of the Region. Renato Schifani. “Introducing concrete objectives for new managers – he continues – with a system of timely and rigorous checks will serve to guarantee patients timely access to care. It is our duty to give citizens qualified and rapid responses to their health needs.”
The new general managers
The Council, upon proposal of the Health Councilor Giovanna Volo, confirmed the extraordinary commissioners who already led the health companies, with the exception of the ASP of Catania. Management continuity in the Etna company will be ensured by the health director, as required by law. Subsequently, the new general director will be appointed.
These are the names of the new general directors appointed in the provincial health authorities: Daniela Faraoni at the ASP of Palermo, Giuseppe Cuccì at the ASP of Messina, Giuseppe Capodieci at the ASP of Agrigento, Salvatore Lucio Ficarra at the ASP of Caltanissetta, Mario Carmelo Zappia at the ASP of Enna, Giuseppe Drago at the ASP of Ragusa, Alessandro Caltagirone at the ASP of Syracuse, Ferdinando Croce at the ASP of Trapani.
COMPANY MANAGERS
As regards hospital companies, they have been nominated in Palermo Walter Messina at the Arnas Civico e Roberto Colletti at the Villa Sofia-Cervello combined hospitals. In Catania, the guide switches to Giuseppe Giammanco to Arnas Garibaldi and others Salvatore Emanuele Giuffrida at Cannizzaro. In Messina, the new director of the Papardo is Blasi Chain. In polyclinics, Maria Grazia Furnari takes up the position in Palermo e Giorgio Giulio Santonocito in Messina.
An action plan for the recovery of waiting lists
Within 15 days of signing the contracts, the new managers will have to appoint the health and administrative directors, already selected by the Region. Furthermore, within thirty days of taking office, they will have to prepare an operational plan for the governance and recovery of waiting lists, which must be approved by the Health Department. Among the new features, the mandatory achievement of 100% of the actions envisaged by the Regional Operational Plan (Por) of Mission 6 – Health of the Pnrr.
A change of pace for Sicilian healthcare?
The appointment of new managers and the introduction of a new contract scheme will represent an important change of pace for Sicilian healthcare. The declared objective is to give citizens an efficient, timely and quality healthcare service. The next few months will be crucial to evaluate the actual effectiveness of this new strategy.
The appointment of the general directors covers another piece of the political puzzle with which governor Schifani is grappling. Now there are a couple of pieces to be developed within the Council, which could change its structure after the outcome of the vote for the renewal of the European Parliament.
