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Strengthening the health system is for 7 out of ten Italians (69%) the priority in which the Government should invest. Even more important than work and containing energy costs with interventions on bills and expensive fuel. Just under a year after the end of the pandemic, this is one of the legacies of the Covid experience, according to the data of an Ipsos research (“Priorities and expectations of Italians for a new NHS”) presented on the occasion of the sixth edition of the « Inventing for Life Health Summit» organized by MSD Italia.
Healthcare is at the top of the priorities for Italians
In two years, the share of Italians who indicate health and healthcare as the absolute priorities in which the Government should invest has increased from 52% to 69%, ahead of work and energy costs. In particular, priority should be given to emergency room, hospital care and prevention. According to the survey, 88% of Italians believe that public health represents a strategic priority for the country and that an increase in its funding is necessary. There is also high recognition of the research and development effort put in place by pharmaceutical companies. Almost 7 out of 10 Italians believe that the pharmaceutical sector can represent a stimulus for the recovery of the Italian economy and 73% of the population believes that the State should invest more in public pharmaceutical assistance
Digital health is good, but fears about artificial intelligence
Also according to the survey, the unknowns about artificial intelligence have perhaps contributed to cooling enthusiasm for digital transformation, which is nevertheless considered useful by 68% of Italians (compared to 79% in 2021) because it can reduce the workload of healthcare personnel, identify risk factors early, help in diagnosis, personalize treatments. However, 32% of the sample expresses concern, especially about the absence of human contact and the difficulty people have in having access to digital tools. «Digital transformation and artificial intelligence are viewed with great attention by citizens but there are elements of concern», explains Ipsos president Nando Pagnoncelli. «The idea that human contact is disappearing is worrying. So yes to telemedicine, but we must not impoverish the relationship.” In this, added Pangoncelli, the family doctor has a fundamental role in countering fake news. «Citizens are vulnerable to untruthful information. The proximity of the doctor and his authority can be an antidote to the spread of false news.”
Investing in healthcare also helps the country’s development
«In the expectations of Italian public opinion, health and healthcare remain the first priority for the Government», finally underlined the president of Ipsos Nando Pagnoncelli. «The rationalizations affecting public healthcare, amplified by news reports on the pressure to which healthcare workers are subjected, reinforce the urgency of expected action on hospital services and care, especially first aid». «Investing in healthcare produces, by definition, a positive impact on the health of citizens and patients; but there are many positive externalities generated, both in terms of effects on the objectives of sustainable development and the economic and social growth of the country”, stated Nicoletta Luppi, president and CEO of MSD Italia. «Health needs investments and innovation; but innovation needs an attractive ecosystem. We recognize that the new Government has envisaged, with the latest Budget Law, a significant increase in the resources allocated to public healthcare and a further rebalancing of public pharmaceutical spending ceilings, but the problems have not been resolved”, added Luppi.