Sciacca Doctor Considers Closing City Center Clinic Due to ZTL Restrictions
A limited traffic zone (ZTL) in the historic center of Sciacca, Italy, is creating access issues for patients and prompting a local physician to consider relocating his practice. The situation highlights a growing tension between efforts to boost tourism and maintain essential services for residents.
A family doctor practicing in both the Piazza Farina and Percono districts expressed concerns that the current ZTL implementation prioritizes tourists over the needs of local healthcare access. “Probably – he says – I will close the clinic in the center. The ZTL safeguarded the tourist, while the patient was a little abandoned,” illustrating the perceived imbalance.
Patient Access Challenges in Sciacca’s Historic Center
The physician, who operates out of Piazza Farina twice a week, reports a significant decline in patient visits during morning and early afternoon hours. This coincides with the ZTL’s operational timeframe, making it difficult for individuals, particularly those with mobility issues or without access to alternative transportation, to reach the clinic.
The core issue, as described by the doctor, is a misalignment between the ZTL’s schedule and the typical patterns of activity in the historic center. “I study in Piazza Farina twice a week – he says – and in the morning and in the early afternoon I don’t see many people in the historic center.”
Proposed Solution: Adjusted ZTL Hours
The doctor suggests a revised ZTL schedule that would commence at 6 p.m., aligning with the peak tourist hours. This adjustment, he believes, would minimize disruption to patient access while still effectively managing traffic flow during periods of high tourism. “If the ZTL started at 6 pm there would be no problems and it would make more sense because the amount of tourists around is greater,” he stated.
The presence of numerous other medical practices within the historic center underscores the importance of maintaining accessible healthcare services for the local population. The situation in Sciacca serves as a case study for other historic Italian cities grappling with similar challenges – balancing the economic benefits of tourism with the essential needs of their residents.
