Over 1,600 pending applications, some dating back to late 2023, and waiting times that in many cases reach nearly two years . The numbers portray a critical situation at INAIL in Oristano , where the recognition of occupational diseases and workplace injuries has become an obstacle course for hundreds of workers.

The alarm was raised by spokespeople for the Acli, Enac-Uci, Enapa-Confagricoltura, Enasc-Unsic, Enasco 50&Più, Epaca-Coldiretti, Epasa Itaco-Cna, Inapa-Confartigianato, Inca-Cgil, Ital-Uil, Senas, and Sias-Mcl employers' organizations, who described workers "forced to wait almost two years for work-related injuries to be certified." The delays have a very specific cause: "the chronic shortage of medical personnel," a problem that affects all of Sardinia but is particularly acute in Oristano. Without medical-legal assessments, cases remain stalled, and the institute is unable to guarantee timely responses.

Another source of tension is the failure to adhere to the chronological order in processing applications. The decision to prioritize even the most recent applications, to avoid a backlog, has ultimately penalized older applications , increasing uncertainty and discontent among workers.

According to Franco Caria of Enapa - Confagricoltura, there are no immediate solutions in sight. The recently published call for medical recruitment is deemed insufficient: even if new hires are made, training will take time. In the meantime, it's unsustainable to continue with a single medical director forced to split his time between Oristano, Nuoro, and Sassari.

Without structural intervention, Caria warns, there is a risk of being forced into legal appeals. This is the only way to avoid the expiration of claims, which, according to INAIL regulations, kicks in 3 years and 150 days after the worker is informed of the link between the illness and their profession. This paradox risks turning the wait into a permanent loss of rights.

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