The health emergency caused by COVID-19 has had a significant impact on various aspects of economic and social life in Italy, also influencing the planning and implementation of National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). This article analyzes the legal and institutional implications of the combination between the pandemic and the PNRR, examining the measures adopted and the challenges faced by Italy in the context of the European regulatory framework. In particular, the topic of Community housesprecisely one of the tools introduced into the NHS through the PNRR.
COVID-19 has presented an unprecedented challenge to the global health and economic systems. In response to this crisis, theEuropean Union promoted the Next Generation EUa package of financial instruments aimed at supporting the recovery of Member States. Italy has implemented these tools through the PNRR, a strategic plan aimed at stimulating economic growth and social resilience which is divided into six main missions: digitalisation, innovation, competitiveness and culture, green revolution and ecological transition, infrastructure for sustainable mobility, education and research, inclusion and cohesion, health. The PNRR represents a significant response, but its effectiveness will depend on the ability to implement the necessary reforms in a timely and coordinated manner. In this context, as will be said shortly, the so-called Community houses that have as objective is to respond effectively to the ever-increasing demand for health which comes from a population that in the “country” of Italy is becoming and is increasingly older.
The Community Houses are territorial structures intended to offer health and social-health services in an integrated way such as to act as points of reference for the citizenswhere it is possible to access a range of services, from prevention to treatment, through social assistance. There Campania region is implementing an ambitious investment plan, also with funds from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, to develop the said territorial healthcare model that is closest to citizens’ needs. This program involves the creation of 169 Community Houses, 45 Community Hospitals e 58 Territorial Operations Centers throughout the regional territory. The Community Houses represent multipurpose primary care facilities and specialized ones that also offer social and health services and where citizens can access multidisciplinary team of doctorsnurses and other professionals to perform diagnostic testsreceive vaccines, e benefit from other health benefits. Community hospitals, on the other hand, are designed to provide low-intensity care to individuals who need assistance. The Territorial Operations Centers they will have the task of coordinating the region’s health services in an innovative and technologically advanced way to improve monitoring and coordination between the different levels of health care.
These structures will have the task, as part of a synergistic operation, of reduce the influx to the various emergency rooms and will encourage protected discharges from regional hospitalswith dedicated medical and nursing staff. More specifically, the main objectives of the Community Houses are to: improve access to services so as to guarantee citizens the possibility of accessing the necessary care more easily, reducing geographical and socio-economic barriers; promote socio-health integration, or create synergies between health and social services for overall management of citizens’ well-being; promote continuity of care and therefore ensure that patients receive coordinated and continuous assistance. They must operate as a hub for a variety of servicessuch as: offering primary and specialist assistance (Medical visits and check-ups); Provide support to patients with mental health problems and social difficulties (Psychological and social support); Organize awareness campaigns on public health issues (Prevention activities). This ambitious program represents an important step towards innovation in healthcare which aims to promote the creation of a network of community facilities to improve access to healthcare services and ensure quality and equity care for the citizens of the Region Campania. Community Homes represent a significant step towards a more inclusive and person-centred healthcare system. If properly implemented, as the Campania Region is doing through the various Local Health Authorities located throughout the entire territory, they will certainly significantly improve the quality of healthcare, contributing to lasting collective well-being.
Mariagiusy Guarente and Marcello Abbondandolo
(Legal managers of ASL Avellino)
#Community #homes #accessible #care
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How do the Community Houses introduced through the PNRR address the growing demand for health services in Italy, and what legal frameworks support their establishment?
As an editor for world-today-news.com, I had the opportunity to speak with Mariagiusy Guarente and Marcello Abbondandolo, two legal managers from ASL Avellino, about the legal and institutional implications of the PNRR in Italy. Our conversation focused on the challenges faced by the country in implementing the necessary reforms in a timely and coordinated manner. We also discussed the role of Community Houses, one of the tools introduced through the PNRR, in responding effectively to the ever-increasing demand for health services in Italy.
1. Can you give us an overview of the legal and institutional implications of the combination between COVID-19 and the PNRR in Italy?
2. What specific challenges has Italy faced in implementing the necessary reforms to support the recovery package?
3. How do Community Houses aim to improve access to healthcare services in Italy?
4. Can you explain further the functions and objectives of Community Houses, particularly in relation to integrated health and social care?
5. How will Community Houses interact with other healthcare providers and infrastructure to ensure continuity of care for patients?
6. What role do Local Health Authorities play in the successful implementation of Community Houses, and how can they improve the quality of healthcare in the region?
7. What are your thoughts on the potential impact of Community Houses on the broader healthcare system in Italy?
8. Given the aging population in Italy, how do you envision the role of Community Houses evolving in the coming years?
9. What is your assessment of the Campania region’s investment plan in developing the Community House model, and do you see room for further expansion or improvement?
10. what advice do you have for other regions looking to implement similar initiatives as part of their post-pandemic recovery strategies?
