In the context of the dispute concerning the Palma di Montechiaro outpatient clinic fielded by the SPI-CGIL of Agrigento together with the local SPI League, which culminated in the town meeting of 16 February 2024 which was attended, among others, by the general secretary of the CGIL of Agrigento Alfonso Buscemi and the General Secretary of the SPI Sicily Concetta Balistreri, the meeting took place yesterday with Dr. Ercole Marchica, Director of the FF Primary Care Department of the ASP. The meeting, held at the ASP of Agrigento, requested by the SPI of Agrigento, was attended by the General Secretary of the Spi-CGIL Franco Gangemi together with a delegation of the Lega Spi of Palma di M. composed of Lillo Inguanta, Rosario Gallo and Vittorio Gicants.
In the meeting the union representatives listed the critical issues encountered in the clinic, which were already known to the ASP managers to whom the platform drawn up after the citizen meeting had been sent together with the request for a meeting, highlighting the need for urgent intervention to restore social and health services that are fundamental to the health of citizens.
In summary:
1-lack of staff in continuity services and specifically in the medical emergency service (continuity of care);
2-lack of administrative staff in services aimed at citizens, including the office that deals with the change of general practitioner and ticket exemption and the renewal of driving licences;
3-lack of specialist medical figures: ophthalmological assistance, ENT, cardiology, oncology, etc;
4-non-medicalised 118 station, this means that as there is no emergency doctor’s station but only rescuers, in emergencies we frequently resort to professional figures who are not suitable for the service (they mainly intervene at night, if they are not busy, doctors on duty). Dr. Marchica proved to be understanding, available to listen and dialogue, and, in his capacity as manager of the ASP, he explained the actions that the ASP is implementing to deal with the socio-health emergencies of the area, including the Palma di Montechiaro clinic.
The ASP has issued an Intercompany Mobility Notice published on 15 April 2024, reserved for outpatient specialists with the aim of finding specialist doctors available to move around the area.
The following specialist branches are foreseen for the Palma polyclinic: 12 hours per week Oncology; 4 hours per week Angiology; 6 hours per week Cardiology; 6 hours per week endocrinology; 5 hours per week dermatology; 4 hours per week Rheumatology; 4 hours per week Pneumology; 5 hours per week Neurology; 5 hours per week geriatrics. Dr. Marchica also underlined that the first members would arrive. Furthermore, Dr. Marchica, when asked about the issue relating to administrative services, announced that the COT Territorial Active Centers will be active by June 30th. The COTs will have a function of coordinating the care of the person and linking services and professionals in order to ensure continuity, accessibility and integration of health and social care. Finally, the SPI-CGIL delegation opened the discussion regarding the construction of the COMMUNITY HOUSE envisaged by the PNRR also for Palma di Montechiaro, considering that the COMMUNITY HOUSE should be located in the same building as the outpatient clinic which will have to be renovated, the SPI highlighted the need to temporarily transfer, pending the entry into operation of the COMMUNITY HOUSE, the services of the Clinic into a property accessible to citizens by proposing the one located in Villaggio Giordano owned by the Municipality. Dr. Marchica indicated the ASP’s willingness to immediately investigate the issue by involving the local Spi CGIL.
The Secretary General
Franco Gangemi
