Naples: Stretchers "rented" for €400 a night in the emergency room: the prosecutor's office is investigating, and the local health authority is taking action.

The case broke last Saturday, brought to light by the Facebook page of the "Nessuno Tocchi Ippocrate" association. According to a serious complaint filed by a patient's family, to compensate for the lack of stretchers in the emergency room of the Ospedale del Mare, a private hospital allegedly "rented" a stretcher for the exorbitant sum of €400 for a single night. This illicit rate, around €30-40 per hour, was paid to circumvent the structural deficiencies of the Naples hospital.

The intervention of the NAS and the reaction of the ASL

The alleged business at the expense of patients immediately triggered inspections. On Saturday afternoon, the NAS Carabinieri conducted an initial inspection of the eastern Naples hospital. Yesterday morning, the Naples 1 Local Health Authority (ASL) responded harshly, issuing a strict ban on access to the emergency room areas for all private ambulance personnel.

At the same time, the hospital management sent half a dozen additional stretchers, diverted from other hospital facilities, and launched an internal investigation. Meanwhile, the Naples Public Prosecutor's Office has also opened a file on the case. The initial company report shows that the hospital has 53 stretchers, a number deemed adequate to handle an average of 60 patients in the Intensive Short Observation Unit (OBI) awaiting admission.

The Anti-Chaos Plan and Gubitosa's Defense

"No complaints of poor service or abuse regarding the use of stretchers have ever been received from users by the facility management or the Public Relations Office," ASL manager Gaetano Gubitosa stated, urging residents to always report any problems to official channels. The director acknowledges the inherent problems of overcrowding, particularly on weekends and Monday mornings, but emphasizes the adoption of a strategic plan launched in February in line with the 2025 regional guidelines.

Measures to streamline flows include separating patients in triage based on severity, rapid turnover on the front lines, using backup beds in other specialties, and transfers to other ASL facilities. "More stretchers will arrive by the end of the month thanks to an order already processed," Gubitosa assures, "but it's clear that if any illegal activity emerges, the competent authorities, with whom we are collaborating, must intervene."

The political offensive of the Brothers of Italy

The scandal sparked an immediate reaction from regional politicians. Three Brothers of Italy councilors—group leader Gennaro Sangiuliano, Health Committee Secretary Raffaele Maria Pisacane, and Councilor Lea Romano—demanded clarification from the health department.
"It's already serious and shameful that patients are kept on stretchers, even worse, on paid stretchers," Meloni representatives accuse. If confirmed, the councilors emphasize, this news would paint a further dramatic picture of medical malpractice. For this reason, the group has announced a written question to President Fico, asking him to activate all necessary mechanisms to put an end to this situation.