Characteristics of the health districts in Italy and their implication in primary health care policies: an analysis of socio-demographic trends.

The Health District (HD) is a critical component of Italy's National Health Service, responsible for ensuring Primary Health Care (PHC) services in response to community health needs. The Italian government established a national strategic reform program, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), starting in 2022, with a series of health interventions to reorganize the PHC setting, the main reform being the Ministerial Decree 77/2022 (DM77). Our study aimed to provide a description of socio-demographic data and to assess the correlation between HDs, in order to suggest health intervention priorities in PHC reforms. We conducted our analysis using a cross-sectional record linkage of data from multiple sources to compare organizational and socio-demographic variables. A dataset was created with each of the 21 Italian Regions' HDs data of population, land area, mean age, ageing index, old-age dependency ratio, birth rate and death rate. The Inland Areas Project data was integrated for a socio-economic perspective. Our study identified comparable groups of HDs, considering demographical, socio-economic and geographical aspects. The study provides a baseline understanding of the Italian situation prior to the implementation of DM77. It also highlights that inhabitants number cannot be the only variable to take into account for the definition of Italian HDs organisation and PHC reform, providing intercorrelated variables that take into account geographic location, demographic data, and socio-economic aspects. By acknowledging the interplay of demographic, socio-economic, and geographic factors, policymakers can tailor interventions to address diverse community needs, ensuring a more effective and equitable PHC system.

Gabrielli E ，Schenone I ，Cornio AR ，Cerri A ，DI Pumpo M ，Troia A ，Sciurpa E ，Fantini S ，Paladini G ，Sessa G ... -  《-》

The 2022 primary care reform in Italy: Improving continuity and reducing regional disparities?

Several member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development are reforming their primary care systems to improve continuity and co-ordination of care. In May 2022, the Italian health minister issued a new Decree on 'defining models and standards for the development of primary care in the national health service', which addresses some of the major challenges outlined by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The reform will target many aspects of the Italian national health system by transforming primary care into community care, while aiming to overcome geographical disparities and achieve greater effectiveness of services. The reform seeks to establish a new organisational model of the primary care network. There exists the potential to guarantee the same quality of care nationwide, thereby reducing geographical differences in the provision of services and improving healthcare services overall. Nevertheless, in a decentralised health system such as Italy's, reform implementation could actually proliferate rather than reduce regional disparities. This study explains the main points of the Decree, shows how the primary care models of the Italian regions may evolve in relation to the specified criteria, and examines the Decree's capacity to bridge regional discrepancies.

Mauro M ，Giancotti M 《-》

The 2022 community-based integrated care reform in Italy: From desiderata to implementation.

Cinelli G ，Fattore G 《-》

What should the government do regarding health policy-making to develop community health care in Shanghai?

Yu Y ，Sun X ，Zhuang Y ，Dong X ，Liu H ，Jiang P ，Yu Z ，Zhang Y ... -  《-》

Indicators predicting use of mental health services in Piedmont, Italy.

Tibaldi G ，Munizza C ，Pasian S ，Johnson S ，Salvador-Carulla L ，Zucchi S ，Cesano S ，Testa C ，Scala E ，Pinciaroli L ... -  《-》