Lombardy, once celebrated as a leader in Italian healthcare, has dropped from fourth to seventh place in the Ministry of Health's 2023 rankings.

The report evaluates regions based on essential healthcare services, including prevention, territorial assistance, and hospital care.

Governor Attilio Fontana criticized the rankings, calling the evaluation criteria "unacceptable" and "biased.

" He argued that the drop was due to a single pediatric indicator introduced this year, which he claims is not representative.

Despite the decline, Lombardy remains among the regions eligible for national healthcare funding bonuses.

Fontana emphasized the region's strong hospital performance, with several facilities ranked among Italy's best.

The controversy highlights ongoing debates over healthcare evaluation methods and regional disparities.