Politics · Italy · 5 hrs ago
Italy's lower house backs reinstating doctors removed during Covid
Italy's Chamber of Deputies backed a plan to reinstate doctors removed during the Covid emergency.
The measure would let those doctors rejoin their professional registers.
It was included in a bill to reorganise health professions.
The vote was close, with 126 votes in favour and 113 against, plus two abstentions.
The result exposed divisions in the governing coalition, as some Forza Italia lawmakers did not vote and Futuro Nazionale said its members helped secure passage.
Opposition lawmakers argued the measure undermined doctors who followed the rules and the memory of people who died of Covid.
The bill must still pass the Senate before it can take effect.
The Chamber of Deputies approved keeping a provision that would allow doctors struck off for refusing COVID-19 vaccines to rejoin the medical register.
The vote was 126 in favour, 113 against and two abstentions, a margin of 13 votes.
The provision is part of a bill on reorganising health professions, which still needs to pass through the Senate.
Opposition lawmakers criticised the measure, saying it undermined science and doctors who had followed the rules during the pandemic.
Some Forza Italia lawmakers did not vote, while Futuro Nazionale said its members helped the majority secure approval.
- Who
- Italy’s Chamber of Deputies voted on the provision. It concerns health professionals struck off during the COVID-19 emergency.
- What
- The Chamber approved keeping a provision allowing those professionals to rejoin the medical register.
- When
- 27 October 2026.
- Where
- The Chamber of Deputies in Rome.
- Why
- The provision is part of a bill on reorganising health professions. The sources do not state the stated rationale for its introduction.
Supporters of the provision
Opponents of the provision
Reinstatement
Supporters of the provision
Supporters said the provision was right and Futuro Nazionale said it was prepared to back the measure.
Opponents of the provision
Opponents said reinstating the doctors would be a blow to doctors who followed the rules and to COVID-19 victims.
Scientific standards
Supporters of the provision
Supporters’ arguments on scientific standards are not stated in the sources.
Opponents of the provision
Opponents said the doctors had rejected scientific positions and warned the measure could weaken the defence of science.
Article 8 was introduced in committee on a proposal from FdI.
The Chamber approved keeping Article 8 by 126 votes to 113, with two abstentions.
The bill, which is at first reading in the Chamber, must pass through the Senate before it can come into force.
- Yes votes
- 126
- No votes
- 113
- Abstentions
- 2
- Vote margin
- 13 votes
- Provision
- Article 8 of the bill on reorganising health professions
- Next step
- Passage through the Senate is required before the bill comes into force
3 sources
What people are saying
Without our votes, the Meloni government would have fallen.
You are giving a slap to the doctors who followed the rules and a slap to the victims of COVID.
How will they behave regarding the mRNA vaccine for tumours?
Forza Italia once again voted according to conscience.