The report

OECD, in Italia +25% more doctors than EU average, but lack of basic doctors

According to an OECD study presented to the Cnel, in 2023 Italia could count on 5.4 doctors per thousand inhabitants. The data also reveal a shortage of general practitioners and nurses. Per capita healthcare expenditure around 19% lower than the EU average

by Pietro Menzani

6 May 2026

OSPEDALE MEDICI INFERMIERI SANITA' DEGENTI MALATI PERSONALE MEDICO IMAGOECONOMICA

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

Italy is short of up to 5,800 general practitioners
Nurses also lacking
Life expectancy is growing but healthcare spending is below the EU average

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

In 2023, there were 5.4 doctors for every 1,000 inhabitants in Italy, over 25 per cent more than the EU average. This is one of the highest figures recorded at EU level. However, although the overall density of doctors has grown by more than 1 per cent per year over the last decade, the density of general practitioners (GPs) - family doctors - has decreased by around 13 per cent over the same period.

These are the findings of the report 'Health Profile 2025: Italia' drawn up by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The results of the study were presented Wednesday, May 6 at the Cnel, in Villa Lubin, as part of the event "Profile of health. Health status of the health system in Italia".

Italy lacks up to 5,800 general practitioners

The OECD report estimates that there is a shortage of between 2,910 and 5,897 general practitioners nationwide, a shortfall of between 8% and 16% depending on the benchmark used, which can be the contractual upper limit or a ratio of 1,350 patients per doctor. The result of the decline in general practice is an increase in the volume of work for practising professionals. In 2023, in fact, almost 52 per cent of the general practitioners had more than 1,500 patients, the limit load under the national collective agreement.

However, not all of the country is affected by the same shortage of white coats. Among the regions where the deficit is most pronounced are Lombardy and Veneto, where - according to the study - a percentage increase in the workforce would be required to reach a ratio of 1,350 patients per general practitioner of 29% and 23% respectively.

In contrast, no shortages were recorded in Tuscany, Umbria, Abruzzo, Molise, Basilicata and Sicily.

The OECD report explains that the shortage of GPs is not accidental, but "reflects long-standing disincentives in both training and employment paths". The attractiveness of this specialisation pathway, traditionally delivered through regional non-university programmes, suffers from less favourable conditions than the university training. Such as scholarships that are around 50 per cent lower and a high administrative workload, which takes away from clinical practice. In addition, the lack of formal equivalence between the general medical diploma and university specialisation degrees can discourage students who want to take this route. And the situation does not seem likely to improve. The density of professionals in the sector could decrease even further in the coming years: in 2023, in fact, according to data from the Ministry of Health, 68% of general practitioners had graduated more than 27 years earlier, with peaks of more than 75% in the southern regions.

Nurses are also lacking

The OECD report also notes a shortage of practising nurses, which in 2023 was 6.9 per thousand inhabitants, 20 per cent lower than the EU average of 8.4. In Italia, the ratio of doctors to nurses was therefore 1.3, one of the lowest figures recorded in the Union. The reduction in the workforce, according to the study, can be attributed to retirements, emigration and a drop in the number of new graduates.

In our country, the profession is also made less attractive by the salary: while in most EU member states nurses receive salaries around 20% higher than the national average salary, in Italia they are paid more or less on a par. According to the OECD, "the shortage of nurses represents a structural obstacle to the transition towards more integrated and cost-effective models of care".

Over the last decade, the influx of new nurses has decreased significantly: between 2013 and 2022, the number of nursing graduates fell by more than 3% per year. But since 2023 a hint of recovery has been observed and the number of nursing graduates has once again surpassed the number of medical graduates.

Life expectancy is growing but healthcare expenditure is below the EU average

Data on life expectancy were positive, reaching a record level of 84.1 years in 2024, a good six months more than the pre-pandemic level. This is the best result at EU level together with that recorded in Sweden.

According to the report, cardiovascular diseases and cancer account for half of all deaths. Avoidable deaths are concentrated in lung cancer, Covid-19 and ischaemic heart disease. Furthermore, the OECD states that 'despite the rapid ageing of the population, older Italians generally enjoy better health than the EU average, although some challenges remain, including undiagnosed or untreated hypertension and rising smoking rates'.

On the other hand, Italy's healthcare expenditure is lower than the EU data, corresponding to 8.4% of GDP in 2023, 1.6 percentage points lower than the EU average. Per capita health expenditure is also about 19% lower than the EU average, standing at EUR 3,086 after adjustment for purchasing power. A gap partially offset by private expenditure that is 8% higher than the average.