Today, the Italian government increased the maximum jail time to five years for those carrying out attacks on medical staff.
Justice Minister Carlo Nordio announced the new measure during a press conference, where he presented a decree approved by the cabinet to address the growing number of attacks on medical staff across the country.
Nordio explained that for those committing violence against healthcare workers, “the penalty is increased to five years, and there will be mandatory arrest if caught in the act, with the possibility of delaying the arrest by no more than 48 hours.” He emphasised this measure aims to serve as a strong deterrent, adding, “It is intolerable that individuals working with great sacrifice in outpatient clinics and emergency rooms are being attacked, and that essential environments such as hospitals are being vandalised.”
Cabinet Secretary Alfredo Mantovano further outlined the government’s commitment to protecting healthcare staff, announcing that funds would be allocated in the upcoming budget bill to enhance security measures. “The government intends to include provisions in the next Budget Law to ensure sufficient financial coverage for installing video surveillance systems in healthcare facilities most affected by these attacks,” he said.
However, the specific regulations on video surveillance were not included in the decree. Mantovano clarified that discussions with regional authorities and privacy watchdogs are still needed to finalise the details. “By 1st January, we expect the conditions to be in place to extend video surveillance where necessary,” he concluded.
