Not just healthcare: Schifani government without antibodies (and without peace)

The antibodies are missing. The controls are not working. Decisions often come too late. Along with the ineffective arsenal of protocols, steering committees, task forces, and commissions. And so, the Region finds itself, like never before, infected by the virus of corruption. In a single day, in a single investigation, two key departments are hit: Infrastructure and Health.

The mafia, on one side. The public good used as if it were private, serving careers, ambitions, the desire for power and wealth, on the other. All of this is present in the documents that led to the arrest of the official Giancarlo Teresi, a bureaucrat already arrested in 2020, whom the Region asked to remain in service beyond retirement age, despite being on trial for other charges of corruption. And all of this is in the investigation of manager Salvatore Iacolino, the latest sad chapter in a series of inquiries that, at various levels, have lifted the veil on a Health system of bribes and recommendations, of rigged contracts and unscrupulous middlemen.

For the magistrates led by Maurizio De Lucia, Iacolino would have “made available” his position as a top manager in healthcare to mafia members, in exchange for “various benefits, including funding for electoral campaigns and promises of hiring”. But Iacolino was not just a simple manager, also due to his long political experience. He is, above all, a manager strongly desired by the political leaders of the Region, considering that he is an “outsider” called, even through procedures often subject to controversy, to lead a department that handles the largest share of the regional budget. In short, the Schifani government wanted Iacolino there. A proof that the antibodies are missing. That the controls are not working. And that decisions, like that of “suspending” the newly appointed manager of the Polyclinic of Messina, in view of his dismissal, come when the damage is done.

As had happened with Antonino Sciacchitano, the accountant chosen to preside over the Independent Evaluation Body of managers, he was also certainly favored by Palazzo d'Orleans, at least until he ended up under arrest for a story of alleged bribes in Health.

But the news is now dense and involves all levels, from the highest, indeed, down to individual behaviors, like a virus that runs through the entire organism, from head to toe. Just a few days ago, in fact, there was another investigation by the Palermo Prosecutor's Office that revealed a corruption scheme among doctors and entrepreneurs, useful for speeding up practices and tenders. And other similar cases are intercepted by going backward. Not to mention that even in the investigation into the DC, health ended up in the charges, for the stabilization of social health operators at the Villa Sofia hospital.

But it would be shortsighted to believe that the problem is health and not corruption. Like looking at the classic finger instead of the classic moon. Because the Region, in recent years, has shown itself to be weak, unable to set boundaries, to make itself impermeable. And so, aside from the judicial process that will clarify the validity of the accusations and the contours of responsibilities, the alleged corruption has emerged at the Department of Energy from where, just a few days earlier, the councilor Roberto Di Mauro had left, involved in an investigation into the water network of Agrigento. On April 20, instead, the decision will arrive regarding the Tourism councilor Elvira Amata, accused of corruption for having favored private individuals with public funds. And besides, even the Department of Family had ended up in the cyclone of the investigation that involved the now former leader of the DC, Totò Cuffaro: in this case, councilor Nuccia Albano has not been investigated and does not appear to be directly involved in any criminal matter, but from there, according to the prosecution's thesis, advance indications were given to friendly companies on regional tenders. From that investigation came the dismissal of two councilors who are not under investigation, indeed. A decision made to oust “a system” from the Region, Renato Schifani explained.

In the meantime, however, other “systems” continued to operate. Using the public good for themselves and opening the doors of the Region to individuals already convicted or belonging to environments that should be kept at bay. If only there were antibodies. If only the controls worked. Now, all that remains is the usual late decision, while the virus continues to circulate.