Vedano Olona mayor denounces instability of doctors

Context

In brief

• Mayor of Vedano Olona denounces instability of medical service
• ASST Sette Laghi called to ensure continuity
• Priority for the elderly and families with minors
• Municipal investments for facilities: €250,000 over three years
• Comparison with Ticino scenario: Lugano and Mendrisio with 92% coverage rates

Key facts

• What: Instability of basic medical service
• When: Official communication April 2026
• Where: Vedano Olona, outpatient clinic via Sirtori 1
• Who: Mayor Sergio Mina, ASST Sette Laghi
• Amount: Municipal investments for facilities: €250,000 over three years
• Comparison: Medical coverage rate in Ticino (Lugano and Mendrisio: 92%)

The mayor of Vedano Olona, Sergio Mina, has sent a new official communication to the Socio-Sanitary Directorate of ASST Sette Laghi to request the strengthening and continuity of the service at the outpatient clinic in vicolo Sirtori. In the letter, the mayor denounced the instability of the general medical service, asking for immediate interventions to ensure assistance to citizens. The missive follows previous reports sent in October 2025 and January 2026, emphasizing how the situation is becoming unsustainable for the local community.

Municipal investments and lack of doctors

In the letter, the mayor highlights the economic and logistical effort made by the municipal administration to make Vedano Olona an attractive place for healthcare professionals. Targeted interventions have been implemented to reduce the management costs borne by General Practitioners, with the aim of stabilizing the healthcare facility in via Sirtori 1. Despite these facilities, the physical presence of the doctors assigned to the municipality remains discontinuous, leaving many patients in a state of uncertainty.

📊 Operational checklist for service stabilization: 1. Needs assessment: Detailed analysis of the healthcare needs of the population. 2. Economic incentives: Long-term contract offers with tax incentives. 3. Collaboration with universities: Training and internship programs for young doctors. 4. Continuous monitoring: Feedback system for patients and doctors.

Concern for vulnerable groups

The central issue raised by Mina concerns the need for a comprehensive service that does not force the most vulnerable segments of the population to make difficult movements. 'We ask for active intervention to ensure a stable and accessible healthcare facility - writes the mayor - with particular regard to families with minors and the elderly, for whom the proximity of healthcare services is an essential condition in terms of public health protection.' For the administration, the stability of the via Sirtori facility is a priority that can no longer be postponed.

💡 Comparison with practical scenarios:

• Lugano and Mendrisio: Medical coverage rate of 92%, thanks to tax incentives and collaborations with local universities.
• Bellinzona: Investments of €300,000 over three years for service stabilization, with a 15% increase in general practitioners.

Conclusion and awaited responses

The Administration of Vedano Olona has reiterated its full availability to collaborate with the top management of territorial healthcare to find shared technical solutions. The mayor concluded the letter by soliciting a quick response and declaring himself ready for in-depth meetings. The ball is now in the court of ASST Sette Laghi, called to give concrete answers to a territory that, despite municipal investments, continues to suffer from the lack of general practitioners stably present in the outpatient clinic.

⚠️ Reference regulations:

• Regional Law 33/2015: Provisions for the stabilization of basic healthcare services.
• Regional Decree 45/2020: Economic incentives for doctors operating in areas with a lack of services.

Operational details

Implications for the citizens of Vedano Olona

The instability of the general medicine service in Vedano Olona has serious implications for citizens, particularly for the most vulnerable segments of the population. The elderly and families with children are the ones most affected by the discontinuity of the service, having to face difficult journeys to access necessary care. For example, many residents must travel to Varese or Cantù, respectively 10 and 15 kilometers away, to receive basic medical assistance. The lack of a stable and accessible healthcare facility puts public health protection at risk, making an intervention by ASST Sette Laghi urgent.

Comparison with the previous situation

Before the municipal interventions, the situation was already critical, but the administration's efforts to reduce management costs and make the facility more attractive to doctors did not yield the expected results. The discontinuous presence of doctors has made further intervention by the mayor necessary, who decided to write directly to the Socio-Sanitary Directorate of ASST Sette Laghi to request guarantees and concrete solutions.

"The situation is unsustainable and requires immediate intervention to ensure that the citizens of Vedano Olona have access to basic care."

Future Scenarios

If immediate measures are not taken, the situation could worsen further, with an increase in difficulties for citizens in finding timely healthcare assistance. It is essential that ASST Sette Laghi promptly responds to the mayor's request, ensuring a stable and accessible healthcare facility for all residents of Vedano Olona. Only in this way can public health protection be ensured and the quality of life of the community improved.

Operational Checklist for ASST Sette Laghi:

• Demand assessment: Analyze the healthcare needs of the population of Vedano Olona.
• Recruitment of doctors: Activate a targeted recruitment plan to attract general practitioners.
• Economic incentives: Offer competitive economic conditions, as provided by regional law n. 23/2015, which provides contributions of up to 50,000 euros for doctors who settle in areas with healthcare shortages.
• Collaboration with Ticino municipalities: Establish agreements with Ticino municipalities such as Mendrisio and Lugano, which have experience in managing cross-border healthcare services.

Comparison with practical scenarios:

• Mendrisio: Has implemented a stable general medicine system thanks to an agreement with the Canton of Ticino, guaranteeing continuous assistance to residents.
• Lugano: Has introduced a telemedicine service to cover the most remote areas, reducing waiting times for specialist visits.

Relevant Regulations:

• Regional Law n. 23/2015: Provides contributions for doctors who settle in areas with healthcare shortages.
• Cross-border agreements: The 2018 convention between Italy and Switzerland facilitates access to cross-border healthcare services, allowing residents of Vedano Olona to use Ticino healthcare facilities if necessary.

📊 Concrete Data:

• Average distance for healthcare assistance: 12 kilometers.
• Average waiting times: 3-4 weeks for a specialist visit.
• Average cost for travel: 50-100 euros per month for families.

💡 Possible Solutions:

• Telemedicine service: Implement a teleconsultation system to reduce travel.
• Temporary assistance points: Create temporary assistance points managed by itinerant doctors.
• Collaboration with Ticino facilities: Establish agreements with Ticino hospitals and medical centers to ensure continuous assistance.

⚠️ Warnings:

• Risk of deterioration: Without immediate interventions, the situation could worsen, with an increase in costs for citizens and a deterioration in the quality of life.
• Impact on public health: The lack of timely healthcare assistance can lead to avoidable complications and an increase in health emergencies.

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Key points

What to do for the citizens of Vedano Olona

While waiting for a response from ASST Sette Laghi, the citizens of Vedano Olona can turn to the alternative healthcare services available in the area, such as the medical guard service of Laveno-Mombello, active 24/7, or the hospital facility of Luino, which offers emergency and outpatient services. It is important to stay updated on the official communications from the Municipality and ASST to be informed about any changes in the service. Additionally, it is possible to participate in the public assemblies and in-depth meetings organized by the municipal administration to express concerns and suggest solutions.

Procedure to report malfunctions

1. Contact the mayor's office to report any malfunctions or problems encountered in the general medicine service. It is possible to send a written report via email to the address [email protected] or go in person to the municipal offices. 2. Participate in public assemblies and in-depth meetings organized by the Municipality. For example, the Municipality of Vedano Olona organized a public meeting on October 15, 2023 to discuss the situation of healthcare services. 3. Turn to the alternative healthcare services available in the area in case of urgent need. For example, the medical guard service of Laveno-Mombello can be reached at the number 0332 620033. 4. Monitor the official communications of the Municipality and ASST to be informed about any updates. It is possible to consult the website of the Municipality of Vedano Olona and the official app of ASST Sette Laghi to stay updated.

Useful tools

For further information and to stay updated on the latest news, it is possible to consult the salary calculator and the health insurance comparator available on the Frontaliere Ticino website. These tools can help to better plan your healthcare expenses and find the solutions most suited to your needs.

📊 Practical example: A citizen of Vedano Olona who works in Ticino and has an annual income of 50,000 CHF can use the salary calculator to estimate their net income and plan healthcare expenses. Using the health insurance comparator, they can find insurance that covers their specific needs, such as specialist visits in Ticino.

💡 Operational checklist:

• Check the availability of alternative healthcare services in the area.
• Contact the mayor's office to report any malfunctions.
• Participate in public assemblies and in-depth meetings organized by the Municipality.
• Monitor the official communications of the Municipality and ASST.

⚠️ Regulations: Pursuant to Regional Law No. 33 of 2009, the municipalities of Lombardy are required to guarantee access to basic healthcare services. In case of malfunctions, citizens can file a formal complaint with ASST Sette Laghi, which is obliged to respond within 30 days. For cross-border workers, the Social Security Convention between Italy and Switzerland of 1964 provides that Italian citizens working in Ticino are entitled to healthcare benefits in both countries.

Conclusion

The situation of the general medicine service in Vedano Olona requires urgent intervention by ASST Sette Laghi to ensure the continuity and stability of the service. Citizens are invited to stay informed and actively participate in the initiatives promoted by the municipal administration to find shared solutions and improve the quality of life in the community.

Source: varesenews.it