Forty-six mayors pressure for a single hospital in VCO to be maintained or improved, prioritizing community health.
45 VCO Mayors, Alongside Seven from Novara, Request Regional Authority to Reconsider Single New Hospital Idea
Daniele Berio, mayor of Omegna, has led a coalition of 45 mayors from the Value Chain Optimization (VCO) region in petitioning the Regional Health Commission for a hearing. The request was made a week ago and is still awaiting a response. The purpose is to argue for an investment in a single, new hospital within the VCO region, as opposed to the previously decided upon restructuring of existing facilities in Castelli and San Biagio.
Berio, backed by the Order of Physicians, advocates for this stance, citing the appeal's emphasis on concentrating all services in one structure. It should be noted that while the coalition of mayors forms a numerical majority, this representation does not necessarily reflect the majority in terms of population, as the mayors of Verbania and Domodossola, whose cities would be affected by the proposed hospital's construction, have declined to sign.
The document submitted by Berio dates back to November, at which point it was sent to Minister of Health Orazio Schillaci, Regional President Alberto Cirio, and Health Assessor Federico Riboldi. The physicians' appeal outlines reasons for the single hospital, including higher management costs for the existing hospitals, which they claim constitute a divided and duplicated "plurisite," maintained by expensive temporary staff. The appeal concludes by urging Verbanesi and Domesi to understand the importance of sacrificing a local hospital for one offering superior care levels.
Among others, the mayors of Ameno, Anzola, Arizzano, Armeno, Arola, Bannio Anzino, Baveno, Belgirate, Bognanco, Brovello Carpugnino, Calasca Castiglione, Caprezzo, Casale Corte Cerro, Ceppo Morelli, Cesara, Craveggia, Cossogno, Crevoladossola, Germagno, Gignese, Gravellona Toce, Madonna del Sasso, Malesco, Masera, Massiola, Miasino, Nonio, Omegna, Ornavasso, Pella, Pettenasco, Pallanzeno, Piedimulera (president of the Province), Pieve Vergonte, Premosello Chiovenda, Quarna Sopra and Sotto, Re, San Bernardino Verbano, Stresa, Trarego Viggiona, Trontano, Vanzone con San Carlo, Vignone, Villadossola, and Vogogna have signed in support of the physicians' position.
The support base for this proposal is politically and territorially diverse. While it is evident that Verbania mayor Giandomenico Albertella continues to wield influence in the Verbanese hinterland and Alto Verbano, not all mayors have signed the document per his advice. This comes amidst ongoing stalemate, with Rome awaiting a technical commission's opinion on the feasibility of restructuring the hospitals in Verbania and Domodossola, which could involve €100 million each and potentially revive the 2015 plan for a new hospital in Ornavasso.
While the Enrichment Data offers valuable insights into the potential reasons for building a new hospital versus restructuring existing ones, it remains unclear whether the term "VCO" in this context refers to Vendor Credentialing Organizations or a geographical region. Regardless, the core issue at hand is the mayors' plea to the Regional Health Commission to reconsider the idea of a single, new hospital, pressing the importance of superior care levels over maintaining local hospitals.
The coalition of mayors from the VCO region, in their plea to the Regional Health Commission, advocates for a reconsideration of the idea of a single, new hospital, emphasizing the benefits of concentrating all medical-conditions services in one structure. This proposal, supported by the Order of Physicians, also highlights the increased average health-and-wellness outcomes promised by the proposed hospital, despite the sacrifice of local facilities.
