Surgery is making great strides, driven by innovations such as robotics, but the future of the discipline in Italy is far from rosy: young doctors are moving away from this specialization and generational turnover is at risk.
It is the alarm cry launched by Napoli, where the national congress will take place from 10 to 12 April at the Hotel Excelsior “The Great Revolutions in Surgery”, organized by two authoritative voices in the sector: Ludovico Docimo, director of the School of Medicine of the Vanvitelli University and president-elect of the Italian Society of Surgery, and Vincenzo Bottino, general director of the Betania Evangelical Hospital and president of the Italian Hospital Surgeons.
The data is worrying: 50% of the surgical places remains uncovered and about 20% of young people abandons the course after the first year, with some locations where no new graduates have chosen to enroll. “The causes are multiple – explains Docimo – from increasing legal risks to poor economic protection and high stress compared to other medical specialties. Urgent intervention by the Ministry of Health is needed”.
Yet, on the technological front, Italian surgery proves to be excellent. In 2024 alone, in Italy, over 14.000 surgical interventions with robotic techniques, up 40% compared to the previous year. Campania alone achieved 25% of it. One sector in particular stands out: obesity surgery, which saw an increase in 600% in the last 4 years.
“But without the hand of man – warns Docimo – this progress risks coming to a halt”. The problem is not the technology, but rather those who use it: trained, motivated and numerous surgeons are needed. The congress also dedicates space to the history of great scientific advances. “Today we consider it normal for Sainz to win a GP two weeks after an appendectomy – reflects Bottino – but appendicitis was once deadly. And those who introduced laparoscopy, in the 80s, were initially hindered.”
There is also space for young people, with the “Enrico Di Salvo” Award, dedicated to the late Neapolitan surgeon active in South Africa with humanitarian missions. An award for those under 40 who look with passion to the future of the profession. “Just as it happened with laparoscopy – concludes Docimo – even robotic surgery, today widespread only in large centers, will be accessible everywhere. But we cannot ignore a new vocation for surgery. We need the genius of man, beyond the machine”.
Article published on 8 April 2025 - 11:44
Video Chronicles
The article talks about surgery and the innovation it is bringing, but it does not speak well of the future. Young people are moving away, there are problems with empty positions and lack of interest. Urgent solutions are needed.