Residents of Belcastro, a small, remote village in Calabria, Italy, received an unusual directive from their mayor -- stay healthy at all costs.
"(Residents) are ... ordered to avoid contracting any illness that may require emergency medical assistance," Belcastro Mayor Antonio Torchia announced, as first reported by the BBC.
While the statement appears to carry no legal weight, its goal is to draw attention to the broader collapse of the healthcare system in Calabria, one of Italy's poorest regions. The statements were "a humorous provocation," Torchia clarified.
Belcastro, home to around 1,200 people—half over 65—has no functional local emergency services. The closest emergency department is over 45 kilometers (about 27 miles) away, accessible only by a winding road with a 30 km/h speed limit. Torchia told Italian television the journey poses "more of a risk than any illness."
The village's on-call doctor doesn't work on weekends, holidays, or after hours. Meanwhile, 18 hospitals in the Calabria region have closed since 2009.
For 15 years, Calabria's healthcare system has been under special central government administration, but efforts to reduce debt and improve services have faltered.
Staff shortages, lengthy waiting lists, and inadequate facilities have left the region's two million residents with few options. In recent years, Cuban doctors were brought in to help bridge the gaps.
Locals have voiced support for Torchia's bold approach. "(He's) done the right thing in shining a light on the issue, "one resident told local media, adding the move could spark much-needed discussion about healthcare reform.
"He has used a provocative decree to attract attention on a serious problem," one resident told BBC.
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