What Italy’s lurch to the right means for its healthcare

Much has changed since covid-19 first shocked Italy—and Europe—in February 2020,1 not least the country’s government, now a coalition led by its first far right prime minister, Giorgia Meloni. It takes charge of a country grappling with energy price rises, economic turmoil, and an ongoing health crisis exacerbated by the ongoing battle with SARS-CoV-2.

Despite implementing Europe’s first nationwide lockdown and some of the toughest restrictions among rich countries, Italy still has one of the world’s highest covid death rates over the pandemic.

Like many of its neighbours, however, it has in the past few months dropped mandatory mask wearing and border restrictions (although stringent five day quarantine remains for people who test positive. And the changing political front marks a shift in how the authorities aim to deal with the virus—and health in general.

“International health bodies are recommending that all governments make preparations for the coming winter [with potential covid waves],” says Nino Cartabellotta, founder of the Gimbe Foundation, a non-profit organisation that campaigns on healthcare issues, “yet the management of the pandemic and the booster vaccination campaign have remained on the sidelines of political proposals since last August.”