A mayor in Italy has issued a controversial order banning illness in his community.
The decree was made by mayor Antonio Torchia, mayor of Belcastro, a small village in the province of Catanzaro, in the Calabria region, on 5th January.
The village, with a population of approximately 1,300, struggles with inadequate healthcare, as the nearest emergency room is 45 kilometres (27 miles) away, and half of the population is elderly.
Mayor Torchia described the decree as an “ironic provocation” to highlight the severe shortcomings of the national healthcare system.
He explained that emergency medical services in Belcastro are available only intermittently due to a lack of personnel. The local emergency medical station in nearby Sersale operates without a doctor on board, compounding the crisis.
The mayor’s ordinance urges residents to “avoid contracting any disease that requires medical intervention, especially emergency care, and to rest as much as possible.”
Torchia admitted that the situation is unsustainable, noting that his previous efforts, such as sending certified emails to the Provincial Health Authority and the Prefecture of Catanzaro, have gone unanswered since June 2024.
Torchia has stated that if no improvements are made soon, he will file a formal complaint with the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
He intends to request an investigation into the alleged “interruption of public service” by public authorities responsible for the healthcare crisis in the village.
The mayor added that his unusual initiative has garnered more attention than his prior attempts to address the issue. He expressed hope that the measure would prompt political and health officials to take urgent action to resolve the situation and fulfil the constitutional right to healthcare.
To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below. Story By: Michael Leidig, Sub-Editor: Simona Kitanovska, Agency: Newsflash
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