From the Zes hiring bonus to digital pharmaceutical prescriptions: the measures of the Milleproroghe decree

From digital pharmaceutical prescriptions to the return of hiring bonuses that expired at the end of the year. The Milleproroghe decree, ready to arrive in the Senate for conversion into law, has not lost its characteristic of an omnibus measure accentuated by its passage through the House.

Among the novelties (around 150) introduced in Montecitorio is the extension of the incentives to help employers in the ZES regions, now including the new entries Marche and Umbria. While the incentive to hire disadvantaged women is confirmed until 31 December 2026, the youth bonus and the ZES bonus are only extended until 30 April 2026, with the decontribution reduced to 70 per cent and remaining at 100 per cent "only if the hirings lead to a 'net increase in employment'.

The decree does not lack a large package of healthcare measures. First of all, there is the rule that makes the electronic prescription definitive, the measure (for which there will be no need for extensions) provides that all health service prescriptions filled by doctors will henceforth only be in digital ('dematerialised') format, which does not, however, prevent citizens from printing them out and taking them to the pharmacy to pick up their medicine.

Among the most important extensions is the one that allows Asl (local health authorities) and hospitals to keep doctors in service until the age of 72 and to rehire retired white coats for the whole of this year: those who voluntarily decide to remain in the wards will not be able to hold senior positions (university students are excluded, however). The Milleproroghe also allocates EUR 45 million for 2026 and EUR 9 million for 2027 for healthcare assistance to displaced Ukrainians.

Then there is the confirmation for 2026 of the criminal shield for doctors and healthcare professionals, which limits criminal liability to cases of gross negligence in situations of serious staff shortages, pending the approval of the regulation contained in the health professions delegation that has just passed through Parliament that makes the criminal shield permanent.