Moige controversy over anti-Covid rules

"Talking about family pediatricians who work in smart working is a dangerous trivialization, which risks exacerbating tempers to the detriment of children's well-being. The "me against you" model is fine for social media clips, but certainly not when it comes to health, a topic that should see parents and doctors on the same side of the fence."

To stigmatize the attack on an entire category launched by the Italian Parents Movement (Moige) are the national vice president of FIMP Antonio D'Avino and the regional secretary Giannamaria Vallefuoco. The point of view of the Italian Federation of Pediatricians is clear: the approximately 7.000 Italian family pediatricians have always had the objective of protecting the right to health of minors and the vast majority of them have continued to work incessantly at their practices throughout the pandemic.

To the accusation of having switched to a smart working model, D'Avino and Vallefuoco clarify that "remote consultations were used only in some selected cases and in specific clinical conditions. The will of pediatricians is to continue to assist Italian children in person, as during this year and a half, but it is important to do so safely. The Ministry of Health - they clarify - has precisely indicated what the most common symptoms of Covid are and has specified that the nasopharyngeal swab is the only diagnostic test that allows to exclude or confirm the infection".

Then a new invitation to all fight for the same purpose. "In the fight against the pandemic - D'Avino and Vallefuoco clarify - the parents of the little patients have a crucial role, only by accepting a pact of co-responsibility will the interests of the minors be served". A co-responsibility that strengthens the relationship of trust between the family and the pediatrician who takes care of the minor from birth to adolescence.

"The family pediatrician - concludes FIMP - knows well what the clinical indicators are for a visit, demanding a visit for "phlegm" is clearly an inappropriate request that cannot be accepted. Instead, maximum collaboration and understanding is needed from parents, so that possible and dangerous exposures to Covid 19 in waiting rooms are avoided, which would put the health of all children waiting to be seen at risk. The rules exist not because of a whim of pediatricians, but to protect the many extremely fragile children who could pay a very high price for a Covid infection".