Italian regions unanimously say 2027 budget underfunds healthcare

Regions demand more health funding

On Wednesday, 4 November 2026, the Conference of Regions met in an extraordinary session to set out its position on the 2027 budget bill as it begins its parliamentary passage. The regions agreed unanimously that the healthcare resources in the bill are insufficient, and asked government and parliament to direct every available financial resource toward a further increase of the National Health Fund. The fund reaches 146.3 billion euros in 2027, but the regions argue that healthcare spending is rising faster than that financing, pushed up by inflation. Some 14 of Italy's 20 regions are governed by centre-right coalitions, while six are ruled by the centre left.

Friuli Venezia Giulia president Massimiliano Fedriga, who chairs the Conference, put the problem in plain terms.

“The problem is that spending runs faster than funding, and with this budget we risk no longer being able to guarantee LEA coverage.”

What the regions say is missing

The regions asked for 6.5 billion euros more and will receive 2.4 billion, plus an amount set aside in the previous budget, so the shortfall is what the regions describe as cuts. Lombardy's welfare assessor Guido Bertolaso put the reduction for Lombardy at nearly half a billion euros. Veneto should have received 8.5% of the 6.5 billion, or 552 million euros, but at the 2.4 billion level its expected share is 204 million euros, about 348 million less, according to estimates by regional offices.

Expected share at 6.5 billion request552

Estimated share at 2.4 billion allocation204

Expected share at 6.5 billion request

552 million euros

Estimated share at 2.4 billion allocation

204 million euros

Data from the article text

Tuscany's increase in the fund for 2027 is about 200 million euros, yet the region expects further cost rises of around 600 million that the national fund will not cover. Covering inflation alone, the regions had asked for 3.48 billion euros, while the government allocates 138 million, or 4% of that request.

Requested by Regions3.48

Allocated by government0.138

Requested by Regions

3.48 billion euros

Allocated by government

0.138 billion euros

Data from the article text

Government and majority response

Lucio Malan, the Brothers of Italy group leader, answered reporters after meeting Cisl and rejected the word cuts.

“They are not cuts: what is called 'cuts' is the missing further increase. There are no cuts; the cuts were made in the past.”

Health Minister Orazio Schillaci told the Chamber of Deputies earlier that day that the fund is at its highest level and keeps growing, with more than 20 billion euros added since 2022. He defended the proposed voucher as a targeted measure for the elderly, while the regions want it removed and its 1.6 billion euros redirected directly to public healthcare. In Trieste that evening, Fedriga added that as an autonomous region Friuli Venezia Giulia does not take part in the distribution of the national health fund.

“We are working with the government because, obviously, it is important to guarantee more resources.”

Options and coalition tensions

The leading proposal, led by Emilia-Romagna president Michele De Pascale and possibly backed by centre-left regions, is to remove spending constraints. De Pascale says only 800 million euros of the allocated money is freely available, while the rest is tied to new spending set by the budget itself, such as 100 million for Alzheimer care and 136 million for non-self-sufficient elderly people. On 5 November, AGI reported that Lega and Forza Italia are increasing pressure on Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti to amend the budget, and that several ministers are unhappy with measures they say were not agreed. Economy vice minister Maurizio Leo said that changing the bill requires additional resources, which makes the question of coverage central. According to informed sources cited by AGI, the government does not rule out using the substitute powers set out in the Constitution to act without an agreement with the regions on the fund.