Italian Hospitals Face Delay in Modernizing Diagnostic Technologies
According to a report from Il Sole 24 Ore, Italian hospitals will have to wait until 2026 to take advantage of new diagnostic technologies such as CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging, linear accelerators, and digital ultrasounds. This delay is due to a revision of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Pnrr), which has pushed back the modernization plan for hospitals by two years.
The revised plan includes an allocation of 1.2 billion euros to replace over 3,000 outdated healthcare devices, such as CT scans, MRI machines, and radiological systems. However, the postponement is reportedly due to some regions requesting more time to prepare for the implementation of new technologies. This includes tasks such as the disposal of old equipment and necessary facility adjustments to accommodate the new machines.
The report also highlights data from Confindustria, which indicates that over half of the diagnostic equipment in Italian healthcare facilities is outdated and less efficient. Specifically, there are nearly 37,000 diagnostic devices in hospitals that are no longer in line with modern technology standards. This includes a high percentage of aging conventional mammograms, CT scans, and x-ray systems.
The delay in modernizing diagnostic technologies in Italian hospitals raises concerns about the overall efficiency and quality of healthcare services. It is evident that there is an urgent need for investment in modern healthcare equipment to improve patient care and medical outcomes.
For more information, the full article is available on ANSA.it.