Financing welfare with a tax on orange soda, in the words of Fabrizio Cicchitto, is an oddity of the Monti government. In an interview, the health minister Balduzzi defends it, placing it in a perspective that aims at the health of Italians, less sugar, less alcohol, the same better diet. But it is utopian to think in this sense, to hypothesize that Italians significantly reduce the consumption of sugary drinks to the point of seriously "weighing" on the diet plan. It is also violence against people in a time of difficulty, more taxes, more limitations. Who knows what project will be presented at the next council of ministers, if these are the ideas. Yet the argument is serious, and is more decisive than others in terms of the daily life of Italians. Lonely elderly people, non self-sufficient elderly people, human and family tragedies that leave you breathless. On the other hand, an administration that is impotent on the one hand but distracted, absent on the other, and a political "caste" entrenched in its own privileges. Nobody really gets to the heart of the matter. setting up a close-knit social and health care network would make Italians feel protected and guaranteed, would lead to rationalization and savings and above all could lead to hundreds of thousands of jobs to be allocated to various professional figures and various categories of precarious workers. With a single blow, a real development mechanism would be triggered, resources would be put into circulation. Etc, et cetera. But in the absence of a real plan, of clear ideas, thinking of taxing orange soda to throw away 250 million euros really gives the measure of how far those who govern today are out of touch with reality.
25 August 2012 – OnLine-News
Balduzzi's sanity, shadows and lights
The health decree anticipated by Repubblica and the interview with Minister Balduzzi draw a new scenario for the health of Italians. Some proposals are decidedly interesting, others incomplete, still others decidedly wrong.
The 24-hour medical clinics in association with white coats, teleworking, the criteria for appointing the heads of the structures, are in fact significant innovations.
With regard to appointments, it is to be hoped that the criterion of the curriculum will be able to overcome the dividing methods - of the health management and sometimes even of the department - which have marred our health. Transparency is therefore welcome, if it really succeeds in establishing itself.
Even the cut in the formulary that wants to encourage the use of drugs is equivalent
