Politics · Italy · 5 hrs ago
Italian regions seek more health funding at Florence festival
The Festival of Regions opened in Florence on October 25 for three days of meetings on regional concerns.
Leaders from Italy’s regions are asking the government for more money for the national health fund and fairer rules for sharing it.
Twelve regions want the funding formula to better reflect local conditions and the age of residents.
Tuscany’s president said regions need at least six billion euros more each year, while some are seeking 18 billion euros over three years.
Health underfunding could mean fewer services and worsening problems in an already strained system.
Health undersecretary Marcello Gemmato said the government plans to increase the fund in its next budget, and President Sergio Mattarella is expected at the festival’s official opening on Monday.
Leaders of regions with special autonomous status are also seeking concrete answers from the government on autonomy and fiscal arrangements.
The fifth Festival of Regions opened in Florence on October 25, with health funding and regional autonomy among its main issues.
Regional leaders called for more money for the national health fund and fairer rules for sharing it.
Some regions are seeking an additional €18 billion over the next three years, while Tuscany’s president said at least €6 billion more is needed each year.
Health Undersecretary Marcello Gemmato said the government plans to increase the fund in its next budget.
The festival runs through October 27, with President Sergio Mattarella expected at its official opening on Monday.
- Who
- Italian regional leaders and government officials, including Health Undersecretary Marcello Gemmato.
- What
- Regional leaders are seeking more health funding and fairer rules for distributing the national health fund. Gemmato said the next budget is expected to increase the fund.
- When
- The festival opened on October 25, 2026, and runs through October 27.
- Where
- Florence, Italy.
- Why
- Regions say they need more resources to maintain health services and want funding rules to better reflect local conditions and population age.
Regional leaders seeking more funding
Italian government
Funding levels
Regional leaders seeking more funding
Some regions are seeking €18 billion more over the next three years, and Tuscany’s president says at least €6 billion more is needed each year.
Italian government
Health Undersecretary Marcello Gemmato said the next budget is expected to increase the national health fund and that the requested €18 billion matches what the government has allocated so far.
Distribution rules
Regional leaders seeking more funding
Regional leaders want fairer allocation criteria that account more for local conditions and population age.
Italian government
Not stated
The fifth Festival of Regions opened in Florence with a ceremony in Piazza Santa Croce.
Gemmato said the next budget is expected to include an increase in the national health fund.
President Sergio Mattarella was expected to attend the festival’s official opening on Monday.
The three-day festival is scheduled to end.
- Festival edition
- Fifth
- Location
- Florence, Italy
- Festival dates
- October 25–27, 2026
- Funding request
- €18 billion more over three years sought by the most demanding regions
- Tuscany’s stated need
- At least €6 billion more per year for the national health fund
- Allocation review
- 12 regions asked to revise the fund’s distribution criteria
What people are saying
All regions need more resources to maintain our health system. At least six billion euros more a year are needed for the national health fund.
an increase in the health fund
12 regions have asked for a review of the fund's allocation criteria, so that they take greater account of the characteristics of the territory and the age of the population
There must not be first-class and second-class autonomies