Accusations of corruption, inefficiencies and hidden agendas are rife in Italian healthcare. The president of Lazio region has been forced to step down following a scandal; the government of Lombardy, a key private-sector stronghold, has also been rocked by allegations. The media has hounded Mario Monti, forcing him to walk back pro-private sector statements. As a backdrop to all of this, Health Minister Renato Balduzzi’s spending cuts are ravaging the private hospital sector.