The small Calabrian village of Belcastro has taken an unusual approach to spotlight its healthcare struggles, issuing a decree “banning” residents from falling seriously ill.
Mayor Antonio Torchia’s decree orders the town’s 1,200 inhabitants to “avoid contracting any illness that may require emergency medical assistance.”
While the mandate is obviously satirical, Torchia explained it was meant to draw attention to the dire state of healthcare in the region.
Belcastro, located in one of Italy’s poorest regions, faces significant challenges in accessing medical care. Over half the village’s population is aged over 65, and the nearest Accident and Emergency (A&E) department is 45 kilometres away, accessible only by a winding road with a speed limit of 30 km/h.
Adding to the strain, the local on-call doctor’s office operates sporadically and is unavailable on weekends, holidays, and after hours.
Torchia told Italian TV that reaching the nearest A&E in time was “a matter of luck,” given the poor road conditions, which he called “more dangerous than any illness.”
Satire with a Serious Purpose
The decree, which also advises residents to “avoid behaviours that may lead to domestic accidents” and to “rest as much as possible,” has sparked discussion across Italy. Although there are no clear plans to enforce the “rules,” Torchia said the decree was having more impact than his previous appeals to regional authorities.
One local resident said, “The mayor has done the right thing. It’s a provocative way to shake people’s consciences about a serious issue.”
Calabria’s Healthcare Struggles
Calabria’s healthcare system has long been plagued by political mismanagement and organised crime interference. The region has been under special administration by the central government since 2009, but little progress has been made in addressing the massive debts and chronic staff shortages.
Since 2009, 18 hospitals in the region have closed, forcing nearly half of Calabria’s two million residents to seek treatment elsewhere in Italy.
In an attempt to alleviate the crisis, the Calabrian government signed an agreement with Cuba in 2022 to bring nearly 500 Cuban doctors to the region over three years. Regional Governor Roberto Occhiuto has praised the initiative, saying the doctors have “saved” Calabria’s hospitals.
A report in April last year highlighted the national healthcare system is under threat. The ratio of healthcare spending to GDP had dropped to 6.3%
