Medical professionals are planning protests in response to the attacks in Foggia
Italy’s government is facing growing pressure from health workers to deploy the army to protect public hospitals after a series of violent assaults against doctors and nurses. Medical professionals, already struggling with heavy workloads and low pay, say they are now also facing physical threats, adding a new layer of risk to their jobs.
The latest incident occurred in the southern city of Foggia, where doctors and nurses were forced to barricade themselves in a room to escape an enraged group of relatives and friends of a young woman who died during surgery. The family reportedly blamed the hospital staff for her death, according to Italian media. A hospital spokesperson confirmed that both the clinic and the judiciary are investigating the case.
Images showing hospital staff using a sofa and a chest of drawers to block the door have gone viral on social media and news platforms, highlighting the gravity of the situation. Since then, two more attacks have taken place at the same hospital. In one case, an 18-year-old patient assaulted three emergency room nurses, and in another, the son of a patient attacked two nurses and a security guard, according to police and hospital staff.
Barbara Mangiacavalli, head of Italy’s national federation of nurses, has called for immediate action, demanding the presence of the army in hospitals. “We want zero tolerance in hospitals… We want the army to let both citizens and doctors know that they are protected,” she told *Il Messaggero*.
Filippo Anelli, president of Italy’s national federation of doctors, has echoed these calls, urging Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to use EU post-COVID funds to bolster security in hospitals. He expressed concern over the safety of healthcare workers and the growing number of assaults.
Medical professionals are planning protests in response to the attacks in Foggia. According to the health ministry, more than 16,000 assaults on healthcare workers were reported last year, underscoring the urgency of the situation. Health Minister Orazio Schillaci condemned the recent attacks, calling them “shameful”, while Deputy Minister Marcello Gemmato assured that such crimes would not go unpunished.
In a further push for action, Ignazio Zullo, a senator from Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party, has proposed a law to deny free hospital treatment for three years to anyone who assaults medical staff. The proposal has garnered support from some doctors’ associations, reflecting the widespread frustration and concern over the escalating violence.
As the situation worsens, healthcare workers across Italy are calling for swift government intervention to ensure their safety and to restore confidence in the nation’s hospitals, which have become battlegrounds in an increasingly volatile environment.
