Cancer patients, the Policlinico of Palermo strikes back "Doctors offended and pain instrumentalized"

The Policlinico of Palermo responds to the accusations made by the deputy Davide Faraone, who on Thursday morning showcased through his social media pages the situation of the oncology department with "patients crowded in prefabricated structures and long waits of several hours".

Maria Grazia Furnari, the general director of the Policlinico, at a meeting that also included oncology patients, department doctors, and union representatives, described Faraone's statements as "distorted and biased information that violates patient privacy and damages the image of the facility and creates alarm in the population". She continued: "I strongly reject certain attacks that offend the professionals who work every day with commitment, honesty, and quality".

At the moment, Furnari further explains, there are four renovation sites at the Policlinico in as many buildings thanks to Pnrr funds, including building 13, which also housed oncology. "Completely emptying building 13 was not easy, but we succeeded. It should be remembered that there are not only healthcare activities here but also university teaching schools and research". All these relocations, which are temporary, have always been shared with the medical management and the technical area in compliance with health regulations. Oncology, in particular, has been moved to a building that until recently was used as an emergency room and has been renovated, so it is in excellent condition.

To maintain the same pace of care, due to the different size of the new building, the activity pathways had to be reorganized: chemotherapy sessions have been extended to the afternoon, until 8 PM – thus 4 more hours and the opening hours of the pharmacies have also been extended.

After the technical meeting, however, Faraone responded: "No one has ever questioned the work of doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers in Oncology. We are talking about top-level professionals" – explained the deputy of Italia Viva – "The issue is the conditions in which they are forced to work and those in which fragile oncology patients spend hours receiving heavy and delicate therapies".

The general director described Faraone's actions as a "manipulation of pain", emphasizing once again that at the end of the works – scheduled for June 30 – each department will return to its original position and that oncology is not the only one being moved from pavilion 13, referring also to neurosurgery and orthopedics. The specialists present, Antonio Russo, Giuseppe Badalamenti, and Maria Rosaria Valeri, echoed Furnari's words. "We are certainly experiencing a condition of discomfort, but with a spirit of collaboration and in respect of the dignity of the patients, we have activated safe pathways to allow the continuation of their therapies. Cancer does not take a vacation".

Regarding the guarantee of care, Faraone responded that it is a "sacrosanct" action but "it cannot become the facade behind which to justify any situation". He concluded: "I will bring the matter to institutional venues with a parliamentary inquiry. This way we will understand whether the management of the Policlinico is right or if the reported issues deserve answers and solutions".