Confindustria, the Italian employers' federation, has called on the government to eliminate the payback system in the healthcare sector.
The payback system requires suppliers to reimburse a portion of healthcare expenditures that exceed a national ceiling of 4.4 percent. The federation argues that this system is negatively impacting the financial stability of medical device suppliers and hindering technological innovation.
The National Agency for Regional Health Services, Agenas, is looking to the French model for inspiration to enhance its governance of medical devices. The goal is to ensure the procurement of safe and efficient medical devices while controlling public spending.
Confindustria warns that the payback system is straining the financial resources of companies, particularly those with a strong international presence, and could lead to a crisis in the medical device sector. The burden of reimbursement falls disproportionately on both the regions and the companies that have won tenders, which could result in increased bankruptcies among smaller firms and reduced competitiveness.
Confindustria proposes two corrective measures: enhanced monitoring of the spending ceiling and a revision of the spending ceiling itself to align it more closely with European averages. These revisions are seen as vital for fostering innovation and investment in the healthcare sector. The current financial framework poses risks to the sustainability of technological innovation, and addressing the structural issues within the payback system is necessary to support the healthcare system's financial health and the advancement of medical technologies.