Dramatic Data on Essential Healthcare Levels in Italy
Results of recent monitoring show that only eight out of twenty regions in Italy are able to guarantee essential levels of healthcare for their residents, according to Americo Cicchetti, the general director of programming at the Ministry of Health. This represents a significant worsening compared to previous monitoring, where twelve regions were compliant. Additionally, a report from the Court of Auditors highlights “the serious crisis of sustainability of the national health system”, indicating that the system no longer guarantees effective equality of access to health services.
Furthermore, the data reveals that Italians are incurring significant debt for medical care, with a total of 1 billion euros in loans taken out to cover health-related expenses. This, combined with an increasing number of people giving up medical care due to economic reasons, is indicative of a widespread negative perception of the country’s healthcare system.
As a result, there is a decline in the culture of health among citizens, with many opting to pay out of pocket for care that should be provided by the public system. This, in turn, erodes the effectiveness of the National Health Service (NHS) and is reflective of the deep-rooted issues within the system.
The ongoing decline in essential healthcare levels calls for a comprehensive reform of the NHS. The inadequacy of the system, characterized by long waiting lists, inadequate local services, and overly expensive private care, highlights the urgent need for change.
In response to these challenges, health experts Roberto Polillo and Mara Tognetti are proposing a five-year health plan to address the current state of crisis within the Italian healthcare system. They emphasize the importance of promoting a culture of health literacy, prevention, and health promotion as a basis for improving individual and collective health, and ultimately the well-being of the country as a whole.
The authors of the report emphasize that a robust and effective health system should have a universalistic, flexible, and resilient character that meets the real needs of the population. By implementing these measures and lifting the burden of healthcare costs from the citizens, the authors hope to restore confidence in the NHS and rebuild a strong culture of public health in Italy.