Doctor 'gettonista' earning 35,000 euros in a month: the latest madness of healthcare in Frosinone

The case of a seventy-year-old doctor, labeled a “fee-for-service” physician, who reportedly earned over 35,000 euros in January 2026 is sparking debate in the province of Frosinone. This significant sum has brought renewed attention to the systemic crisis in public healthcare, characterized by insufficient staffing, vacant positions in competitions, and marked pay disparities.

In response to the uproar, the Strategic Management of the Frosinone Health Authority intervened to clarify the situation, stating that the 35,000 euros is a gross amount calculated based on standard rates for the hours actually worked. January, the company explained, was a “perfect storm”: the seasonal flu peak coincided with the usual absences of medical staff and the delay in starting the new contract for emergency services, initially set for January 1 and then postponed.

Behind the record numbers, the health authority emphasizes, lies a structural emergency. The extensive use of fee-for-service doctors was reportedly the only way to keep the four emergency rooms in the province operational. One particular statistic highlights the severity of the situation: a recent competition to hire 20 emergency doctors closed without any applications.

The company assures that the organizational situation has stabilized since February 15, 2026, with the implementation of the new contract, designed to ensure a more efficient and adequate model.

However, local reassurances do not quell national outrage. On social media, Matteo Bassetti, director of Infectious Diseases at the San Martino Polyclinic in Genoa, shared a harsh analysis. According to his calculations, to reach that figure, the seventy-year-old would have had to accumulate 442 hours in just one month, equivalent to about 36 shifts of 12 hours.

“Working 442 hours in a month means having worked 6 days for 24 consecutive hours and the other 24 for about 12 hours a day,” wrote the infectious disease specialist, raising a crucial question about safety: “Are we sure that, at over 70 years old (but this applies to any age), with these hours, mistakes are not made?”

Bassetti contests not only the possible derogation of the rules on rest and shifts, but also the economic disparity. If a “super-consultant” takes home 35,000 euros in thirty days, a structured medical director — who ensures the continuity of service — earns on average less than 3,000 euros net as a new hire, reaching about 4,000 euros by the end of their career. In other words, in one month the on-call professional would have earned what a salaried colleague makes in almost a year.

Bassetti's final appeal is clear: “On this issue, it is urgent to reiterate that a national rule is needed that everyone must adhere to”. This position was immediately supported by the virologist Roberto Burioni, who commented: “Wise words”.