Zangrillo Demands Public Apology from Bertolaso Over San Raffaele Remarks
Milan, May 9 – Professor Alberto Zangrillo, Chief Clinical Officer of the San Raffaele Hospital (part of the San Donato Group), has publicly called for Lombardy Welfare Councillor Guido Bertolaso to issue a public apology. The demand comes after Bertolaso made controversial statements about the San Raffaele Hospital during an interview for the Rai program Report.
In a video circulated on his social media profile, Zangrillo addressed Bertolaso directly, stating, “I only ask you one thing: apologize to us.” The controversy stems from Bertolaso’s comments in a trailer for an upcoming episode of Report, which is set to focus on San Raffaele following a crisis in December at its Iceberg pavilion. During that incident, three departments managed by a nursing cooperative faced severe operational issues, leading to internal staff complaints and the subsequent resignation of administrator Francesco Galli.
Bertolaso’s Controversial Statements
When questioned by a journalist about the private hospital, which operates under contract with the National Health Service, Bertolaso asserted, “My responsibility is for the public sector.” He further responded to the journalist’s characterization of San Raffaele as the “jewel in the crown of Lombardy’s healthcare” by stating, “Of the private sector. The jewel in the crown of Lombardy’s healthcare is called Niguarda.”
These remarks have evidently provoked Zangrillo, prompting his strong reaction on social media. “I believed that you felt responsible for the entire pluralistic system, public and private, which you have often said is the jewel in the crown of the Lombardy Region,” Zangrillo articulated in his video message to Bertolaso.
Impact on Other Hospitals and Healthcare Workers
Zangrillo also highlighted the potential demoralizing effect of Bertolaso’s comments on other healthcare professionals. He questioned, “How will the general directors of Policlinico di Milano, San Gerardo di Monza, Papa Giovanni of Bergamo, and all the public hospitals I am not mentioning, but where valiant colleagues work daily, feel today?” He emphasized that private accredited hospitals, such as Humanitas, IEO, and Poliambulanza, contribute significantly to the healthcare system and should not be marginalized.
The professor further reminded Bertolaso of San Raffaele’s continuous availability to admit patients from across the region, particularly stressing the hospital’s crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic. “You know very well what our contribution was during a dramatic period for all of Italy and for the Lombardy region, the period of Covid. And perhaps, thinking about Covid, it is better that you and I stop here. I only ask you one thing: apologize to us. Do not do it with me, do it with all my colleagues who today may feel offended by your words,” Zangrillo concluded.
Current Situation at San Raffaele
As of now, Councillor Bertolaso has not responded to Zangrillo’s demands. The San Raffaele Hospital is currently navigating a sensitive period, marked by the recent resignations of administrator Francesco Galli, who was replaced by Marco Centenari in December, and Paolo Rotelli, Vice President of the Group, who cited a desire to focus on his music label in France. This internal upheaval has led to unrest among trade unions, who are reporting continuous staff resignations, questioning the outsourcing of certain services to cooperatives, and demanding improved wages and working conditions for employees.
The controversy underscores broader tensions within the Lombardy healthcare system, particularly regarding the interplay between public and private institutions and the recognition of their respective contributions.
