“Wait for it”. This could be the bitter slogan of many citizens grappling with long waiting lists in Italy’s Health Service. Eight months after the approval of the law for their abatement, the situation is still far from improving: 24% of the funds allocated by the Ministry of Health to the regions for the 3-year period 2022-2024 - amounting to more than 1.3 billion euros - is still unspent or set aside. This is more than 323 million euros that was supposed to be used to make exams and services faster. And to make matters worse, the NAS Carabinieri raids revealed that 1 in 4 facilities is not in compliance with the timing of services. This is an alarming figure, while the vise of accountability is getting tighter around the ministry and the regions. Health Minister Orazio Schillaci has issued a harsh warning to the governors: in a letter, he accuses them of failing to fully implement the reform, pointing the finger at critical issues such as the failure to activate the Single Reservation Center, the closure of agendas, and the failure to use private facilities or intramoenia services at no extra cost to the patient. In Parliament, Schillaci was clear: “The problem is not funds, but the political will of the regions”. The regions retort by pointing out the non-arrival of promised resources, the absence of GP reform and implementing decrees. But the minister insists, “Collaboration is needed. Health care is not the property of a party, but a common good. The Court of Auditors has certified that between 2020 and 2021 more than 2 billion euros have been allocated for waiting lists, which are often misused or used to cover health deficits”. Schillaci also rejected accusations of encroachment on regional competencies: “The decree on waiting lists does not take power away from the regions, but guarantees a constitutional right. Health protection must be ensured uniformly throughout the country”. A meeting with regional presidents is to be scheduled in order to see what is really missing - funds, tools or political will - to unlock an increasingly urgent reform.