Health · Healthcare & Policy · 3 hrs ago
Veterinary union says Italy's budget leaves public health care fragile
Italy’s public veterinary union Sivemp criticized the country’s budget bill, saying it could leave public health care more fragile.
The union says the bill’s €2.4 billion increase in health funding falls short: regions say it covers only a third of what they requested to address staff and service emergencies.
Sivemp also objects to a tax rule that it says lets some self-employed workers pay a 15% flat tax while employees face a 43% rate.
The union says health workers’ recent contract raises were 5.4%, while inflation in 2026 has already cut purchasing power by more than 5%.
It warns that inflation will further reduce the value of funding for health care, schools and welfare.
Sivemp wants the budget bill amended to address public health needs and ease wider dissatisfaction.
Italy’s public veterinary doctors’ union says the budget law leaves public health care increasingly fragile.
The Italian Union of Public Medicine Veterinarians (Sivemp) says the law should be amended to address dissatisfaction and protect the right to health.
The union criticizes a 15% flat tax for self-employed workers earning less than €100,000, compared with a 43% rate for employees.
It says the €2.4 billion increase in the National Health Fund covers only a third of what regions requested to address staffing and service emergencies.
The union also says healthcare workers’ recent contract increases of 5.4% have been eroded by inflation.
- Who
- The Italian Union of Public Medicine Veterinarians (Sivemp).
- What
- The union criticized Italy’s budget law, saying it leaves public health care increasingly fragile.
- When
- ANSA published its report on November 5, 2026.
- Where
- Italy.
- Why
- Sivemp says the budget does not adequately address staffing and service needs, and criticizes tax differences between self-employed workers and employees.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Budget increase
- €2.4 billion for the National Health Fund
- Flat tax
- 15% for self-employed workers declaring less than €100,000
- Employee tax rate
- 43%
- Contract increases
- 5.4% for healthcare staff for 2025–2027
- Publication
- ANSA, November 5, 2026
What people are saying
Public health care is increasingly fragile
The most striking concerns the measure, of doubtful constitutionality, that allows a 15% flat tax for self-employed workers who declare less than €100,000 while an employee pays 43%
The budget law must be amended to ease the general climate of anxiety and the protests motivated by deep dissatisfaction, starting with the fulfillment of the fundamental constitutional right to health protection
Despite the €2.4 billion increase in the Health Fund, the regions complain that the amount covers barely one third of what was requested to address staffing and service emergencies