The 2026 Plan

Waiting lists, weekend examinations and screening: Sardinia gives targets to local health authority managers

The new strategy directly links the performance of general managers to the results achieved by focusing on accountability, transparency and measurability

by Davide Madeddu

7 May 2026

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Green light for the plan outlining the general managers' objectives for 2026 on health services and waiting lists in Sardinia. The Regional Council has approved the resolution setting out the 2026 objectives, introducing 'a structured system of coordinated actions' to reduce waiting lists and improve the efficiency of the public healthcare system.

The measure, the Region emphasises, 'represents a paradigm shift in the organisation of regional healthcare because it directly and measurably links the performance of general managers to the results achieved. In fact, quantitative indicators, minimum values, six-monthly and annual targets, sources of detection, and objective evaluation criteria are identified for each objective, with periodic monitoring of the achievement of results.

The Mechanism

"We are reinforcing a model based on accountability, transparency, and measurability of results," emphasises Region President Alessandra Todde, who is in charge of the interim for healthcare. We want to punctually link the objectives assigned to the General Directors to the concrete results obtained in the territories'.

The resolution assigns a share of overall percentage points to the general managers of the regional health companies for the 2026 objectives, equal to 48 points to the local social health companies, 38 points to Arnas Brotzu and the Cagliari and Sassari university hospital companies, 20 points to Ares and 5 points to Areus.

The areas of intervention

There are three areas of intervention identified by the Region. The first relates to the production of health services and organisational efficiency, to which 21 points are allocated for the ASLs, 26 points for hospital companies, 20 points for Ares and 5 points for Areus. This includes the objectives of increasing diagnostic services, improving the performance of CT and MRI scans, networking ultrasound scanners, and training health workers in the integrated use of equipment.

"Among the main innovations introduced," the councillor's office points out, "is the extension of diagnostic activities until 10 p.m. on weekdays and on Saturday mornings, a measure aimed at significantly increasing the capacity of public facilities and reducing the time needed to access examinations. The Region is also aiming at the full utilisation of the resources earmarked for additional services for the recovery of waiting lists, including those of the Balduzzi Fund and additional regional funding'.

The second area relates to the reduction of waiting times, to which 12 points are allocated for territorial and hospital facilities. The objectives include increasing the number of specialist visits and instrumental examinations with priority D, improving the ratio between services prescribed and services provided, and constantly monitoring access times through the National Waiting Lists Platform set up at Agenas.

The third strategic area concerns organised cancer screening programmes, to which 15 points are allocated for territorial companies. The objectives concern the improvement of mammography, colorectal and cervical screening coverage levels, with progressive targets defined on the basis of regional data and national standards.

'Reducing waiting lists certainly involves increasing capacity, extending diagnostic schedules and making full use of available technologies, but also through a strong prevention strategy,' the president continues. Cancer screening saves lives: it reduces mortality and, in some cases, even the incidence of disease thanks to the early detection of precancerous lesions. Today, Sardinia still has levels of coverage below national standards: our goal is to make up for this gap and guarantee all citizens the same opportunities for prevention and treatment, regardless of the area in which they live'.