Istat: 10% of Italians don't seek treatment: the primary cause is waiting lists.

"In 2024, 9.9% of people declared that they had given up on seeking treatment due to problems related to waiting lists, economic difficulties, or the inconvenience of healthcare facilities: this represents 5.8 million individuals, compared to 4.5 million in the previous year (7.6%)."

ISTAT President Francesco Maria Chelli stated this during a hearing on the budget. "Withdrawal due to long waiting lists is the main reason, cited by 6.8% of the population, and it is also the component that has seen the greatest increase in recent years: it was 4.5% in 2023 and 2.8% in 2019," and "withdrawal due to long waiting lists is highest among adults aged 45-64 (8.3%) and among seniors aged 65 and over (9.1%)."

The phenomenon is more widespread among women (7.7%), both in the middle ages (9.4% at 45-64 years of age) and in the older ages (9.2% at 65 years of age and over)," explained the president.