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Health care

Two local health authorities (ASP Basilicata based in Potenza, ASM Matera), the San Carlo regional hospital trust in Potenza and the IRCCS CROB in Rionero in Vulture for oncology. Never under a recovery plan, but non-compliant in the 2023 LEA monitoring. High outbound mobility to Apulia, Campania and Lazio; long distances in inland areas.

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Organisation

The Lucanian health service is organised in two local health authorities: ASP Basilicata, based in Potenza and covering the whole province (Venosa and Chiaromonte hospitals, districts and outpatient clinics), and ASM Matera (Madonna delle Grazie hospital in Matera and Giovanni Paolo II in Policoro, facilities at Tinchi and Stigliano). The San Carlo regional hospital trust in Potenza is the reference hospital for high-specialty care and includes the Pescopagano, Melfi, Villa d'Agri and Lagonegro sites; the IRCCS CROB in Rionero in Vulture is the regional cancer centre. Bookings go through the single regional CUP and the electronic health record.

Quality and mobility

Basilicata has never been placed under a recovery plan, but in the monitoring of essential care levels (LEA) for 2023, under the Ministry of Health's Nuovo Sistema di Garanzia, it was non-compliant in one area, with a score sharply down on 2022, mainly in prevention and community care. The region has one of the highest shares of hospital admissions outside the region (outbound mobility), to Bari and Apulia, Naples and Salerno, Rome and the North, at a significant cost to the regional budget. The shortage of GPs and specialists in inland areas is documented by the Region.

Inland areas

For many inland municipalities (Pollino, Lagonegro area, upper Val d'Agri, Matera hills) the nearest emergency department is over 45 minutes away and the regional air ambulance, with bases in Potenza and Matera, covers emergencies; in winter snow can cut off hamlets. Anyone moving to a small municipality should first check that a GP is available and how far the Potenza or Matera facilities are.