Section: Therapy and assistance in the fight against Covid-19

Winner: Holy Pope John XXIII Hospital in Bergamo

The jury awards the Res Publica 2020 International Prize, Therapy section against Covid-19, to the San Giovanni XXIII Hospital in Bergamo. The jury recognizes that the Hospital combines, in its inspiration as in its work, the key concepts of the Award: assistance to others, civic sense, and commitment to the common good.

San Giovanni XXIII is one of the busiest healthcare facilities in Italy in the tragic moments of the infection, with individual commitment pushed to the physical limit, a sense of responsibility up to the extreme sacrifice of staff members. The Jury of the Prize first of all appreciates the human and professional commitment of the General Manager, Dr. Maria Beatrice Stasi who guided the healthcare operations with determination and affability, inspiring trust and hope in both employees and patients. At the same time, the jury identifies the fulcrum of the effort to defend those most affected by the virus in the Emergency Department, Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit. By identifying the department, the jury wishes to honor the Director Dr. Luca Lorini, and all the staff - doctors, nurses, technicians - who have faced dramatic moments not always aware of the reasons for the malaise, the procedures for dealing with it, and the fate meeting to which we were heading.

The inspiration for the activities of the Bergamo hospital is intrinsic to the very origin of the structure. Titled to the Holy Pontiff born near Bergamo, the hospital is an emblem of extraordinary civil commitment. Chronicler of suffering in suffering, the San Giovanni XXIII hospital, through the experience experienced by the staff, for months has sensitized millions of Italians to the gravity of the pandemic, the uncertainties of how to remedy it, the pain of the patient due to the distance from family members, and the defense of his dignity even as the inevitable approaches. He has remedied the inexorable fate of the pandemic sufferer of feeling alone, not abandoned but deliberately isolated to protect others – a victim of deep fear and pain and not just of the virus.

In conclusion, the jury recognizes the extraordinary socio-ethical system that the Giovanni XXIII Hospital has created in the space of a few weeks, in the face of an enormous number of hospitalized people. The jury also highlights the assistance, training and cultural commitment that have characterized the structure of Bergamo since its establishment in 2007. According to the jury, there is no more touching civil commitment than providing assistance based on attention, concern and closeness, to safeguard the dignity of the sick person.

No health facility is able to emerge from the Covid-19 drama without damage and consequences. The Res Publica Award is a tribute to individuals and health departments who, throughout the world, have exceeded physical and psychological limits in the service of others.