Il mercato della salute tra sfide e opportunità

The Italian National Health System (INHS) has been facing, over the last decades, several challenges that may compromise its financial sustainability. Demographic aging is one of the most challenging, especially with reference to Liguria, which is the region with the oldest population in Italy, which in turn is the oldest country in Europe. This characteristic makes Liguria eligible to be a natural economic laboratory to anticipate scenarios that will take place in the other European countries only in 20 years. Estimates suggest that about 40% of the population is affected by at least one chronic disease; this percentage reaches 80% when considering persons over 75. Technological innovation goes faster and faster, as do its applications in healthcare. PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) as well as digitalization processes offer new opportunities and make resources available on condition that a new setting be implemented. Telemedicine provides new solutions for traditional problems: it enables better communication among stakeholders, time saving, and the opportunity to reach and care for patients who live in rural areas or have limited mobility. However, the other side of the same coin is the risk of leaving out people unfamiliar with technologies (for several reasons such as cultural, economic, and demographic characteristics). Efficient and fair solutions have to be implemented, and health policies should be able to put the patient, his or her needs and quality of life at the centre of the decision-making process.