Healthcare, simplified recruitment of Oss from abroad and television for cancer patients

After doctors and nurses, it will be easier to recruit from abroad 'by way of derogation' until 2029, even for the much sought-after OSS (social and health workers and social-assistance workers) to be assigned above all to the new territorial healthcare with the new Community Homes and Hospitals financed by the NRP, which must open by next summer. Still on the health personnel front, of which our hospitals have always suffered from serious shortages, easier recruitment is also on the way - as an exception to ordinary competitive procedures - through stabilisation. Finally, there is also a facility for cancer patients, for whom 'in order to ensure timely treatment' the regions must activate telemonitoring and teleconsultation services (online checks and examinations) at least in every province. These are some of the amendments by the rapporteurs and the government to the Pnrr decree being examined by the Senate's Budget Committee, which is expected to vote on them by next Tuesday in order to send the text to the Chamber of Deputies the following day (the decree expires on 20 April).

The first amendment in fact extends the relaxation of the criteria for admitting to the ward those arriving from outside Europe, a measure introduced with the pandemic and then extended due to the shortage of domestic resources that has already infuriated the Orders of doctors and nurses, however, who had called for the overcoming of this 'far west' on the too light recognition of qualifications from abroad to return to the ordinary way. The amendment to the Pnrr decree envisages that 'in order to guarantee the continuity of territorial assistance services' until 31 December 2029 it will be possible to hire those who have obtained the professional qualification abroad of Oss with a simpler procedure: in practice, the Regions will be able to recognise the qualification with a document check, as an exception to the ordinary rules. Facilities will be able to hire operators even before the recognition is complete, provided that they are flanked by already qualified personnel.

With regard to stabilisations, it is envisaged that - on a maximum ceiling of 30 per cent of planned posts - the Regions may hire up to 50 per cent of those who have accrued at least 18 months of service, even if not continuous, in the last five years as employees of the SSN with flexible or collaboration contracts. Or with a selection based on qualifications and interview, again within the 50% limit, after 24 months of continuous service provided they have been recruited through competitive procedures (including those during Covid).