Pescopagano, Italy – Starting March 2nd, 2026, the Ospedale di Pescopagano will initiate hosting practical training placements for students in their second and third years of the physiotherapy degree program at the University of Basilicata, a key step towards the full activation of the course in September.
The initiative, confirmed by Regional Council President Francesco Fanelli, follows a public meeting held last December and represents a “concrete result” of a determined effort to re-establish the physiotherapy program at the hospital, according to Fanelli. “After the public meeting last December, the organizational phase was immediately activated, allowing, starting in March 2026, the start of training internships at the Pescopagano Hospital for students in the second and third year,” Fanelli stated.
Thirty-seven students are expected to participate in the initial placements, with first-year students utilizing the hospital facilities for formative laboratory function. This expansion of educational opportunities is viewed as strategically essential for the hospital, which has a long-standing reputation as a regional center of excellence in rehabilitation and orthopedics.
According to Fanelli, the regional government has “translated commitments into actions and results” to revitalize the hospital, working in collaboration with the Azienda Ospedaliera Regionale San Carlo. The hospital’s established specialization in care has positioned it as a center of competence deserving of reinforcement and increased investment.
President of the Basilicata Region, Vito Bardi, previously emphasized the hospital’s importance as a vital component of the regional healthcare network, noting its ability to attract patients from outside the region due to the high quality of care provided. Bardi highlighted the hospital’s focus on proximity, specialization, and continuity of care as central to the region’s healthcare vision.
The full physiotherapy course, including both didactic activities and practical training, is scheduled to be fully operational by September 2026.