Nurses Condemn Italy’s 2026 Budget Health Boost as Bill Reaches Parliament

Overview

• The Council of Ministers approved the 2026 Budget Bill—just under €20 billion—two weeks ago, and the measure has now moved to Parliament where opposition parties plan to contest it.
• The plan raises the National Health Fund by about €7 billion to €143 billion in 2026, targeting waiting lists, territorial gaps and uneven regional services.
• The Nursing Up union criticizes the package as insufficient, citing estimated pay increases of roughly €1,600 a year, a specificity allowance rising to €110 gross, and plans for 5,000 nurse hires against shortages counted in the tens of thousands.
• Lombardy is recruiting nurses from Uzbekistan, with more than 200 expected by 2026 and the first 10 already in training in Milan, a pathway that requires tutoring and language courses before full deployment.
• Coverage contrasts Italy’s system with the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, asserting that Italian public services—including the SSN—continue operating, though long-standing constraints like staff shortfalls still slow care delivery.