Health · Healthcare & Policy · 3 days ago
Family doctor shortage puts care at risk for 6.8 million people in Italy
Italy has fewer family doctors than it needs.
An estimated 6.8 million people may lack access to a doctor, though some are cared for by doctors who take on extra patients.
More than half of family doctors have exceeded the usual limit of 1,500 patients.
That can make it harder to give people enough time and keep their care consistent.
More doctors may retire in the next five years, even as training places increase.
Italy may face a family doctor shortfall that puts care for about 6.8 million people at risk, according to estimates from the Italian Federation of General Practitioners (Fimmg).
Fimmg estimated that Italy needed 42,500 general practitioners, while 36,812 were working in 2025, a gap of about 5,700 doctors.
Ministry of Health data show that 51.7% of family doctors had more than the ordinary limit of 1,500 patients; the share was 74% in Lombardy.
A further 10,681 primary care doctors are expected to reach retirement age between 2026 and 2031.
Training places and applicants both increased for the 2026-2029 period, but regional gaps remain, including 1,080 applicants for 240 scholarships in Campania.
- Who
- Family doctors in Italy and the patients who rely on them
- What
- A shortage of family doctors is putting access to primary care under pressure
- When
- Estimates were presented on October 9, 2026; 10,681 doctors may reach retirement age between 2026 and 2031
- Where
- Italy, with particularly high patient loads in Lombardy
- Why
- The number of doctors in service is below the estimated need, and many have patient lists above the ordinary limit
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- General practitioners in service in 2025
- 36,812
- Estimated number of general practitioners needed
- 42,500
- Estimated care gap
- About 5,700 doctors, corresponding to a theoretical 6.8 million people at 1,200 patients per doctor
- Doctors above the ordinary 1,500-patient limit
- 51.7% nationally; 74% in Lombardy
- Doctors expected to reach retirement age, 2026-2031
- 10,681
- Campania training places and applicants
- 240 scholarships for 1,080 applicants
What people are saying
Un sovraccarico che rende sempre più difficile garantire a ciascun assistito il tempo necessario per la prevenzione e la continuità delle cure
è creare le condizioni perché chi scegli la medicina generale, poi non ne fugga
Sources
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