by InTrieste
At a press conference on Monday, regional health officials presented the latest performance data from the Orthopedic and Traumatology Clinic of the Giuliano Isontina University Health Authority in Trieste—offering what they described as a promising case study in health care reform.
Regional Health Councillor Riccardo Riccardi praised the clinic’s progress under the leadership of Professor Luigi Murena, who has overseen a comprehensive reorganization and revitalization effort. The transformation, Riccardi said, is a testament to what bold decision-making and long-term investment can achieve in the public health sector.
“This is a positive example of how courageous decisions and time are essential in health care,” Riccardi stated. “The clinic’s efficiency and performance demonstrate that. It’s the same model we are attempting to apply across the regional health system, though not without resistance—often internal and rooted in the defense of outdated privileges.”
The Trieste clinic, now considered a center of excellence, has reported improved clinical outcomes and increased patient volumes. According to Riccardi, these developments not only reduce the phenomenon of “passive mobility”—where patients leave the region for treatment elsewhere—but also support a more efficient allocation of medical resources.
“When the number of cases and surgeries increases,” he explained, “patient safety and outcomes improve. It also makes the system more attractive to health professionals.”
Attracting and retaining young doctors and medical personnel remains a key concern across Italy. Riccardi emphasized that dynamic, high-performing institutions like the Trieste clinic are increasingly becoming preferred destinations for the next generation of medical professionals.
The clinic’s resurgence comes amid broader attempts to modernize and consolidate health services across the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. While the strategy has sparked internal pushback, officials are positioning the Trieste model as a template for reform elsewhere in the regional health system.
