Maintaining Equity in Health: the Case of the Changes in Offerings and Access Procedures for Early Breast Cancer Detection Services in the Bologna Metropolitan Area

Based on a case study with a strong impact on the citizens of Bologna, the paper presents the implications of progressive changes in the offering of services for the early detection of breast cancer by the public health service, focusing especially on the impact on the safeguard of equity as a principle established by the Italian national healthcare system. Approaching the issue from a user’s point of view, the author suggests integrative tools to safeguard the citizen when accessing the services of the public health system and to actively contribute to improving the system.