Italy healthcare waiting lists improve: 1.6 million more specialist visits and diagnostic exams delivered on time

Agenas first 2026 monitoring shows progress

The Italian National Agency for Regional Health Services (Agenas) published its first quarterly monitoring report for 2026, revealing a measurable improvement in waiting times for specialist visits and diagnostic tests. In the first six months, 1.6 million more services were delivered within the clinically prescribed deadlines compared to the same period in 2025. Total bookings rose from 13.3 million to 14.9 million, reflecting both rising demand and expanded capacity.

Reducing waiting lists is one of the most important challenges for our healthcare system. The first 2026 data, certified by Agenas, tells us we are on the right track.

Timeliness rates climb for both visits and exams

The share of first specialist visits completed within the recommended time frame increased from 76.4% in the first half of 2025 to 78.5% in 2026. Diagnostic exams showed a similar trend, rising from 82.8% to 84.6%. Oncology visits performed particularly well, with over 95% of appointments held on time.

Despite the gains, 2.8 million services still missed their deadlines, including almost 1.8 million first visits and more than one million diagnostic tests. Urgent referrals (to be performed within three days) were handled within the limit in over 80% of cases, but some patients waited up to four weeks or longer. For non-urgent "P" prescriptions, delays occasionally stretched beyond 300 days, far exceeding the 120-day target.

Regional divide widens

Regional performance varied sharply. Liguria saw a 19.7% improvement in timely service delivery compared to 2025, and Lombardy gained 9.5%. Basilicata achieved the best absolute result, with 98.9% of first visits completed on schedule. By contrast, the Autonomous Province of Trento saw an 8.4% decline and Sicily slipped 7.5%. Abruzzo registered a 10.8% drop in the timely delivery of diagnostic exams.

Minister confident reform is taking hold

Health Minister Orazio Schillaci linked the improvements to a 2024 law that took effect in August of that year.

I believe the path we took two years ago with the law is the right one, and we have instigated healthy competition among the regions.

Schillaci cautioned that the data, while positive, cannot be attributed to any single factor and that reducing regional disparities remains a priority.

More bookings, more pressure

The rise in overall bookings, from 13.3 million to 14.9 million, indicates sustained heavy demand on the public health service. The increase in on-time services, alongside the higher total volume, suggests capacity expansion and organisational improvements, but the system is still struggling to keep pace with the growing needs of the population. The Agenas report is the first of a regular monitoring cycle intended to track progress and push regions to close the gap.