Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday (April 21st) slammed reports that tens of thousands of euros of hospital bills had been sent to the families of young victims of a New Year’s Eve fire in Crans-Montana, calling the situation “inhumane” and demanding an urgent clarification from Swiss authorities.
In a post on X, Meloni said she was “shocked” by the reports, which included claims that a hospital in Sion charged more than €70,000 for several hours of treatment.
“Insult at the height of ridicule, something only an inhuman bureaucracy can create,” she wrote, expressing outrage at the scale of the allegations.
Swiss authorities call it a ‘mistake’
Meloni said she immediately raised the issue diplomatically when she spoke with the Italian ambassador in Switzerland. According to her statement, Swiss authorities have since assured Rome that the billing was a mistake and that the affected families will not have to pay.
“I spoke to our ambassador: the Swiss authorities assured us that it was a mistake and that the families would not have to pay anything,” she said.
Despite the assurances, Meloni stressed that Italy will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure that no financial burden falls on the victims or the Italian state.
A call to accountability
The Italian leader said she had instructed the ambassador to maintain the “highest level of attention” to the matter and warned it would be “appalling” if such costs were imposed on those affected by the tragedy.
The incident raised wider concerns about medical billing practices in cross-border emergencies and the treatment of foreign nationals in crisis situations.
Solidarity with the victims
Meloni reiterated the Italian government’s support for those affected by the fire and their families and pledged continued efforts to investigate the incident and determine responsibility.
“The Italian government renews its solidarity with the young people who were involved and with their families,” she said, adding that Rome “will do everything necessary to clarify the tragedy and establish responsibility.”
A New Year’s Eve fire in Crans-Montana claimed 41 lives
A devastating fire at Le Constellation, a popular bar in the luxury Alpine resort of Crans-Montana, has left 41 dead and more than 100 injured.
The fire broke out in the early hours of January 1 as crowds gathered to celebrate the New Year. Authorities said the location was overcrowded at the time. A total of 115 people were injured, some of them seriously.
Nine people are currently under investigation, including the bar’s French owners, Jacques Moretti and Jessica Moretti.
The couple faces several charges, including negligent homicide, negligent assault and negligent arson. Prosecutors are investigating whether safety regulations were violated and whether negligence contributed to the scale of the tragedy.
