Italy's National Health Service (NHS) is in a critical state and requires reform.
The Gimbe Foundation has called for an update to the Essential Levels of Care, which determine the services provided by the NHS. They propose a "healthy reform" that increases intermediate spending and reduces the financial burden on citizens. This includes revising cost-sharing and promoting public-private partnerships.
Experts emphasize the need to rethink policies to address demotivation among health personnel, difficulties in accessing innovations, and growing inequalities in health service access.
The political landscape is tense, with opposition leaders criticizing the government's handling of health care funding. They warn of a potential crisis and advocate for a shift in funding priorities towards health care. Underfunding the NHS will have profound implications, including service cuts and tax increases.
The Gimbe Foundation projects a funding gap of 19 billion euros by 2030. Critics argue that the focus on private health care undermines the public system and violates constitutional rights. They call for a reassessment of tax policies to redirect wealth towards supporting the NHS.
Advocates for reform stress the need for a national plan to eliminate waste and invest in public health. The future of the NHS depends on a unified approach to reform that upholds the values of universal health care.