Pesaro, August 30, 2026 – Four months of waiting to discover that the collected sample was not suitable and that there was an infection to treat. This is the ordeal experienced in Pesaro by a citizen who, in order not to lose the referral, had to postpone the gynecological visit seven times, only to find out that the result of her test was lying in the hospital laboratories.
This is the report that reaches the newspaper from a young woman from Pesaro, who tells her misadventure concluding with a question: “We always say that ‘prevention saves lives’ but when prevention requires four months of waiting and leaves patients in disservice and doubt, the only thing left to save citizens is the wallet of those who can afford private care. And what about those who cannot?”
It all began on April 23, when the woman showed up at the district in via Nanterre to undergo a Pap test regularly booked through Cup. Problems started immediately, because after a long wait of over 40 minutes the woman was informed that “the midwife is not present” but the service had not notified the user in advance to reschedule the appointment. So the exam was performed three days later, on April 27, with the reassurance that the report would be sent to her home within 1-2 months.
The visit postponed 7 times
In anticipation of the result, the citizen immediately took action to book the next gynecological visit through Cup. But time passed, and the report did not arrive. She had no choice but to postpone the gynecological visit: she did so seven times, until the date of September 21, 2026, to avoid the expiration of the medical referral. Then on August 26, after a full 4 months from the test execution, receiving no news, she personally went to the Pesaro Counseling Center to ask for information. She was told that the facility was processing the samples taken on April 18, 2026 and that the waiting times were still 2/3 weeks. Practically mid-October. From April.
“The collected sample was inadequate”
It’s too much. The woman contacts the URP of the Pesaro Hospital to report the disservice, from which she receives the indication to independently contact the Pathology department. Surprise: not only was the report ready, but the collected sample was “inadequate for the evaluation of the cytological exam,” and an “inflammation” was found, with an indication for anti-inflammatory therapy followed by a repeat of the test. The problem is that after four months doubts arise: will the infection still be there? Should a potentially harmful pharmacological therapy for local immune defenses be started or not if no longer necessary? And if the untreated infection had caused complications or contagions within the family? Faced with so many questions, the woman cancels the gynecological visit at the hospital and turns to a private facility at her own expense.
“The Pap test – she comments – is a fundamental tool for screening and primary prevention. Waiting 4 months for a result means nullifying the concept of prevention and early diagnosis. I am aware – she adds – of the enormous difficulties related to staff shortages that afflict our hospitals and laboratories, however the lack of staff cannot become an excuse for the total absence of communication or for a disorganization that forces giving up public healthcare.”
The Ausl: “The times may not have been respected”
On its part, the Health Company replies that in case of positive tests or those showing particular pathologies, these are reported within 20 days. For all other cases, the times are 90 days, a term that in this case may not have been respected due to the summer period and reduced staff because of holidays.
Read more Tragic accident at the flower roundabout: 27-year-old motorcyclist died during the night
