80 vials of the powerful opioid, enough for up to 20,000 doses, vanish from a locked safe at a hospital in Rome with no signs of forced entry.The Italian government convened an emergency meeting at Palazzo Chigi on Friday after 80 vials of fentanyl were stolen from the pharmacy of Rome's Ospedale Israelitico.  The missing quantity of the powerful synthetic opioid would be enough to produce up to 20,000 doses for illicit use, according to government sources.   Fentanyl is a potent opioid used in pain therapy, but is also considered one of the most dangerous synthetic drugs, capable of causing serious harm or death even in small doses. Meeting The emergency meeting was chaired by Alfredo Mantovano, undersecretary to the prime minister's office, and brought together senior officials including the health ministry's chief of staff, the head of the central anti-drugs services directorate, the director-general of the Lazio region's health department, and officials from the prime minister's department for addiction policy.   Government sources described "strong alarm" over what was called irresponsible conduct on the part of those tasked with safeguarding the substances, despite strict rules governing access to and storage of high-risk medicines.   Officials stressed the need to ensure full compliance with the procedures for managing such medicines, in order to protect public health and prevent similar incidents from recurring. Alarm According to Il Messaggero newspaper, hospital staff at the hospital raised the alarm after discovering the vials missing from a safe.   When carabinieri arrived, they found no signs of forced entry, and the hospital confirmed the safe's key was used by several employees.   Investigators are examining various theories, including the possibility that the theft was carried out to order, with the vials destined for resale on the black market. Investigation The Carabinieri's NAS health protection unit has been deployed to investigate, while the health ministry has ordered an inspection of the hospital to establish possible responsibility and verify compliance with existing protocols.   Officials confirmed the government's monitoring group on the implementation of Italy's national anti-fentanyl plan will be reconvened at Palazzo Chigi in the coming days, with the aim of ensuring all relevant bodies apply the necessary precautions and controls.