Bonorva’s Mayor Faces Double Duty as Town Doctor Amid Shortage
Bonorva, Italy – In an unusual turn of events, the mayor of Bonorva, Dr. Massimo D’agostino, has stepped in to fill a critical healthcare gap in his community. Faced with a shortage of general practitioners, D’Agostino has taken on the dual role of mayor and doctor, attending to the medical needs of 1,500 patients while simultaneously managing the town’s affairs.
A Town Without Doctors
The crisis began when two local doctors, a married couple, retired, leaving a significant portion of Bonorva’s population without medical assistance. An attempt by the local health authority (ASL) to find a replacement proved unsuccessful, prompting D’Agostino to act.
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When I learned that, as regrettably I feared, the ASL competition to find at least one substitute went deserted I didn’t feel like pulling back,
D’Agostino stated, explaining his decision to take on the additional responsibility.
The Mayor-Doctor’s Balancing Act
D’Agostino now spends his days juggling mayoral duties and medical consultations. He opens the clinic two mornings and two afternoons each week, but the demands extend beyond scheduled hours.
Both the mayor and the doctor are two full-time jobs. and people come into common to ask me for a consultation or a recipe, and in the clinic to tell me that there is the light bulb of a lightning lamppost or a hole in the asphalt,
he explained, highlighting the blurred lines between his two roles.
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Despite the challenges,D’Agostino finds fulfillment in serving his community. That I can carry on because they both have to do with the life of my community. And why be the administrator who are two grate passions. I immerse myself in things, I want to deepen, I don’t feel tiredness,
he said.
Sustainability Concerns
While D’Agostino’s dedication is commendable, he acknowledges that the situation is not sustainable in the long term. The demands on his time and the impact on his personal life are significant concerns.
It is not a life that I wish anyone, and nobody can think that this can be normal,
D’Agostino admitted.He also emphasized that One cannot think that what is happening is normal,it would not be right for me but above all for the community,who needs a doctor and a full-time mayor.
Looking Ahead
D’Agostino hopes that a permanent solution can be found, but he is also aware of the broader challenges facing small towns in attracting and retaining healthcare professionals.
I hope someone accepts the assignment. But I know well that the problem will reappear over a couple of years at most, when the othre two doctors who remained on duty will retire and Bonorva will no longer be any doctor. Unfortunately it is a problem common to many small towns, which we have only postponed here and that we must find a way to face and solve,
he concluded.
