Shortage of GPs in Pinasca, the mayor Rostagno returns to launch the alarm. He does so with a letter addressed to Dr. Paola Fasano, Director of the Pinerolese AslTo3 District, to the current General Manager AslTo3 Flavio Boraso and to Dr. Franca Dall’Occo (who will replace him from January): “With the end of the year will cease the work of Dr. Pascal who performed outpatient service also at the municipal premises of Piazza IMI – reads the note – Dr. Pascal, together with Dr. De Leo, were the last to receive the patients in Pinasca. In fact, in recent years, two doctors had left the Pinasca clinic to go to other municipalities; as well as the pediatrician who moved to Villar Perosa ».
Pinasca, a municipality of almost three thousand inhabitants, is meant to stay with only one doctor which for years has reached the maximum number of borrowers allowed: «In recent years, many doctors in the middle valley have retired or changed district. In 2020 none of the new doctors “hired” by ASL to serve in the Val Chisone district has foreseen the opening of a clinic in Pinasca, not even for a few hours a week ». The most evident relapses are suffered by the weaker categories: “Of course, for some it is not a problem to go to Villar Perosa or Perosa Argentina, but for other patients, often elderly or without someone who can take them to the doctor in the car, it is . These days, many citizens are going to the local health authorities to choose a new family doctor. They cannot become patients of any doctor who receives in Pinasca ».
The mayor of Pinaschese complains of a not very constructive attitude on the part of the doctors: “The ASL employees invite you to complain in the Municipality (in addition to the damage also the insult) and some general practitioners, still with free places, respond to the solicitations that they receive at their surgeries, and if you don’t want to (or can’t) move you just have to find another doctor. With all due respect to Hippocrates! This i relate to citizens, rightly maddened».
A change of course was deemed necessary: «In general, in these days we hear a lot about the importance of territorial medicine and how the general practitioner can, and should, be the first line of intervention in the health system; however, this is not followed by a clear change in strategy, which involves investing in human resources. For years I have believed that a good health service should give citizens the opportunity to be able to choose your GP in which they can place their utmost confidence. Now not only do we have to adapt to choosing a family doctor among the few who still have some places available, but you can’t even find it in your municipality anymore “.
The feeling of being at a point of no return is evident: “We all know about the lack of doctors, which we have been talking about for too many years; long before the Covid emergency. We all know ours valleys are not desirable and the places in the city are much more comfortable, which is why it is not easy to find new doctors. The difficult period we are living in has highlighted even more how critical this situation is ».
In closing, a wish for 2021: “I am sure that AslTO3, in the person of Dr. Paola Fasano, with the help of the General Management and the Piedmont Region, will be able to find a solution to the unacceptable situation to which the citizens of the Municipality I represent are obliged to submit ».
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