Puglia is reported as the third worst Italian region in terms of healthcare 'passive mobility', as indicated by a new report from the Gimbe Foundation. This report shows that in 2023, Puglia faced a negative balance of -253.2 million euros, an increase from the previous year, highlighting ongoing challenges in the regional healthcare system. Only Calabria and Campania fared worse with deficits of -326.9 million and -306.3 million euros respectively.

The figures reveal that Puglia had a total of 123.3 million euros in credits, placing it in ninth position for active mobility, but faced 376.6 million euros in debts, ranking fourth for negative balance. The report emphasizes that southern regions of Italy, including Puglia, Calabria, Campania, Lazio, Sardinia, and Sicily, collectively account for 78.2% of the country's passive healthcare mobility deficit, showcasing a concerning trend of healthcare migration from these areas.

This situation points to broader issues of inequality in healthcare access between the northern and southern regions of Italy. The 'healthcare migration' is a critical indicator of these disparities, indicating that numerous patients are seeking medical care outside their regions, which can lead to increased strain on healthcare systems in both the originating and destination regions. The report urges policymakers to address these inequalities to improve healthcare service provision in the south.