Italian healthcare system: organization, history, and structures

Editore: FedOA - Federico II University Press

Collana:  Phàrmakon

Pagine:  271

Lingua: Italiano

Abstract: At a time when the issue of public health is increasingly prominent in both civil and scientific debates, understanding the functioning of the Italian healthcare system becomes essential not only for those working in the healthcare sector, but also for those approaching these topics for reasons of study, personal interest, or simple curiosity.This volume is therefore intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the healthcare organization, with particular attention to the Ministry of Health and the National Health Service, tracing its historical, regulatory, and institutional evolution. The work opens with a reflection on the fundamental concepts of "health" and "healthcare," followed by an analysis of the origins and progressive development of the Italian healthcare system from its inception to the present day. The second chapter presents an up-to-date and complete analysis of the organization of the Ministry of Health, including an in-depth look at the Higher Health Council and the National Institute of Health. The third chapter retraces the most significant stages of the National Health Service, from its establishment to the most recent reforms concerning hospital and territorial care. The final part of the volume addresses the topic of Essential Levels of Care (LEA), which form the backbone of the National Health Service and define the guarantees recognized for citizens in terms of access to healthcare services.With this approach, the authors aim to provide readers with a work that enhances knowledge and its practical impact on society, combining academic insight with practical utility in a field—healthcare—that directly affects everyone's life.