The Uil Fpl of Messina expresses strong concern about the news relating to the failure to pay the financing of 91 million euros intended for the IRCCS Centro Neurolesi and the consequent stall that risks compromising the future of one of the most important public health structures in the city.
“It is bitter to have to see how, once again, we try to put the survival of this hospital at risk, as already happened in the past when the closure wanted to decree. Then the determination of the Uil Fpl of Messina and the application of the regional law 9 October 2025 n.24 was decisive to prevent their dismantling”, write the unions.
Which do not include why the IRCCS – already the recipient of the loan starting from 2016, after passing the findings of the Sicilian Region and the Ministry of Health and obtained the approval of the ministerial evaluation nucleus – “must now be subjected to a new revaluation, only for the forfeiture of the original measure”. “To whom does it take advantage, this postponement? Who must” win “and who risks losing?”, They wonder.
It is useful to remember that even the Sicilian Region, in drafting the Dupiss (unitary document of programming of health investments in Sicily), had not included the IRCCS Centro Neurolesi precisely because it is already the assignee of the financing provided for by art. 1, paragraph 140, of law 232/2016.
From this loan – continues the note signed by Livio Andronico (Secretary General Uil Fpl Messina) and the company manager IRCCS area Antonino Duke – depend not only the rebirth of the Piedmont hospital, but above all its survival. Without these resources it will not be possible to continue to guarantee quality services due to the insestable lack of spaces and beds.
Access to funds would mean:
- activate beds still not available today;
- redeterminate the organic equipment and the staff of the staff of the staff;
- start new bankruptcy procedures;
- retain health professionals in Messina forced to emigrate due to lack of opportunities;
- concretely improve the essential levels of assistance (Lea) for citizens.
The Neurolesi IRCCS is the only IRCCS of public law in Sicily, specialized in serious cerebralsions acquired. Thanks also to the acquisition of the Po Piedmont in 2016, located in the heart of the city, every year it guarantees urgent performance to about 20,000 patients.
“We cannot ignore the suspicion that this intricate affair can once again encourage the affiliated private structures, further weakening the Messina public health, already reduced to light. It is necessary, instead, to invest seriously in public health: to strengthen services, improve the Lea, reduce waiting lists and allocate resources to the recruitment of doctors, nurses, OSS and health technicians”. The UIL FPL is “ready to field all the necessary actions, to the competent authorities, to defend the IRCCS Centro Neurolese and avoid yet another snatch to the detriment of the city of Messina. In the next few days we will summon the workers’ assembly to face the situation and decide together the initiatives to be taken”.
Financing of 91 million for the Neurolese Center Bonino Pulejo, Ugl Salute Messina: “Unsacable yet another stall. It is necessary to be an immediate intervention”
Ugl Salute Messina recalls that already last June, on the occasion of the meeting at the VI Commission of the Sicilian Regional Assembly, he had been the only union acronym to publicly raise the need to intervene urgently to unlock the resources by highlighting the still real risks, when from the press articles it seemed that the story was now defined. “After eight years from the assignment of resources it is unacceptable and incomprehensible that the loan is not yet available – the secretaries Ugl Salute Messina Fabrizio Denaro and Ugl Utl Messina Tonino Sciotto declare – a health facility of excellence cannot remain hostage of the bureaucracy, especially in a historical moment in which it is necessary to enhance the levels and scientific research activities for patients and the territory”. The UGL also recalls the long and difficult battle conducted to save the Piedmont Hospital and allow the merger to the IRCCS Bonino Pulejo, a commitment that today risks being frustrated if the implementation of the planned investment program will not be guaranteed.
“Our appeal is clear”, I write money and sciotto: “politics, institutions, trade union organizations and the entire city must join to safeguard this funding and the future of IRCCS, which represents a garrison for excellence for Sicilian and national health health”.