Italy to create a network of national hospital ‘super centers’
nasional reference hospitals” that will be able to count on the latest cutting-edge medical equipment and ample healthcare personnel thanks to funding directly from Rome.
The reform, spearheaded by the Ministry of Health under Minister Orazio Schillaci, aims to tackle health disparities by fostering excellence across the nation, especially in the South.
Rebuilding the Healthcare Foundation
The reform, set to take shape in a decree as early as March 2024, ensures national reference hospitals will have unparalleled autonomy. This translates to flexibility in hiring medical staff and acquiring cutting-edge technology, ensuring these facilities address the needs of patients with the most complex medical needs.
The Decree aims to promote national treasure hospitals – specializing in specific fields like cardiology, neuroscience, and pediatric oncology – listed as resources for the entire country, not just regional spheres. It also strengthens hospitals in Southern regions.
This dismantles the reliance on regional budgets – a major factor contributing to the current departmental discrepancies, wherein patients often travel North for specialized treatment.
Luigi Berlusconi, President of the Regions Councils explains, “The reforms address the long-standing issues patient remittances.”
While neither the government nor the Ministry has released official lists, several names are already generating buzz.
Meanwhile, some believe a “spine” of approximately 8-10 super hospitals in strategic locations is crucial. These hospitals would offer specialized treatment across a wide breadth of medical disciplines and cater to the need without forcing patients to travel long distances.
Potential contenders include institutions like the Gemelli, Careggi (Florence), the Policlinico Bari, Federico II and Gemelli/Bambin Gesù Hospitals in Rome.
The ministry acknowledges there are qualified hospitals throughout Italy but emphasizes the need for these “national reference hospitals” to “raise the bar, not only in terms of technology and research, but also in their operational efficiency and management.”
These centers would draw from existing afloat,
Expanding Coverage Beyond – A Mid-Spring Update
The decreed outlines plans to go beyond designated national reference hospitals. It seeks to improve standards in the existing hospital network – particularly focusing on regional networks of specialized care within pathologies.
Additionally, national clinical networks dedicated to specific pathologies will be established. This helps streamline patient care by linking specialized care regardless of geographical location
This strategy hinges on addressing data collection practices tied better
The integration and better coordination between community healthcare services, ensures that “national reference hospitals” are supported in – rather than challenged by – the existing system.
Indeed, there is still a long way to go before we see the full impact of the reform. However, the general belief is that “Thinking before only on what we have.” This to Schedule of
These threads are interwoven, and the reform hinges
>” Giovanni Migliore, President of National Hospital Federation, emphasized, “We are ten years into the preliminary work on hospital structural reorganization; the time for action is now.” He stressed the need to recruit and retain qualified personnel,
Of course, such
* How will the creation of “super hospitals” impact the existing network of regional healthcare facilities in terms of staffing and resource allocation?
## Interview: Italy’s Planned National Hospital Super Centers
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. We’re here today to discuss some major changes coming to the Italian healthcare landscape. Italy is planning to establish a network of “super hospitals,” nationally recognized centers of excellence. Joining us to discuss the potential impact of this reform is Dr. [Guest Name], a renowned healthcare policy analyst.
Dr. [Guest Name], thanks for being here. Can you please shed some light on what we know about this initiative?
**Guest:**
It’s a pleasure to be here. Essentially, the Italian government is aiming to address the stark regional disparities in healthcare access by creating these national reference hospitals. Many Italians are forced to travel long distances, often North, to receive specialized care. This new system aims to bring that level of advanced medical treatment closer to home, particularly benefiting those in the less affluent Southern regions.
**Host:** How will these “super hospitals” be funded and structured?
**Guest:**
These hospitals will receive direct funding from the national government, bypassing the dependence on often-strained regional budgets. This will grant them greater autonomy in hiring top medical talent and investing in cutting-edge technology. It’s a major shift towards a more centralized approach to healthcare resource allocation, [1](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(23)00277-3/fulltext).
**Host:** You mentioned specialization. What kinds of medical fields are we talking about?
**Guest:**
There’s a push to establish specialized centers in various fields. Think national treasure hospitals dedicated to cardiology, neuroscience, pediatric oncology – areas demanding complex equipment and highly specialized expertise. The goal is to build a network that offers a wide range of advanced treatments across the country.
**Host:** What are the biggest challenges facing this implementation, and are there any concerns?
**Guest:**
Of course, such a large-scale reform comes with its own set of hurdles. One concern is ensuring geographical balance. While the South certainly stands to gain significantly, a well-dispersed network that caters to the needs of all Italians is crucial.
There’s also the question of preventing potential imbalances in staffing and resource distribution between the “super hospitals” and existing regional facilities. It’s essential to strike a balance that strengthens the entire healthcare system, not just select centers.
**Host:**
Dr. [Guest Name], thank you for your insights. It will be fascinating to see how these changes unfold in the coming months.
