C. Accounts, waiting lists, structural criticality, funds are not enough

Waiting lists continue to represent "a structural criticality of the Italian healthcare system", linked not only to the effects of the pandemic, but also to organisational, management and planning factors.

Despite the strengthening of the regulatory and financial framework "implementation difficulties, staff shortages and territorial differences persist which limit the effectiveness of the interventions".

The Court of Auditors states this in the report on "The implementation of measures aimed at reducing waiting lists", also underlining that "the increase in funding has not always produced proportionate results in terms of services provided and reduction of waiting times".