Health-sector waste, corruption 'costs 23.6 bn euros a year'

(ANSA) - Rome, April 16 - Corruption, inefficiency and waste in Italy's health sector cost the State 23.6 billion euros a year, a report by the Institute for the Promotion of Ethics in Health (IPSE) said Wednesday.
    The report looked at Italy's health spending of around 114 billion euros in 2013 and estimated that 6.4 billion euros of that went up in smoke because of graft alone.
    It said that corruption resulted in big differences between the costs of various health services between different regions, health authorities and hospitals.
    It estimated that 41% of the cases of health-sector corruption were in southern Italy, 30% were in the centre, 23% in the north and 6% took place in various parts of the country.
    Health Minister Beatrice Lorenzin has said her ministry will contribute to the saving review of Premier Matteo Renzi's government by promoting better planning and efficiency, rather than across-the-board cuts.