**-headediv>Italy‘s Health Revolution: New Family Doctors to be Directly Hired by National Health Service<//headediv>
The Italian healthcare landscape is set for a transformative shift with the announcement that new family doctors will be hired directly by the national healthcare service. This move, facilitated by funds from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Pnrr), aims to bolster the country’s healthcare infrastructure and improve patient care.
Direct Hiring and New Work Model
Graduates from the new university speciality in primary care will no longer function as independent contractors, but rather as employees of the National Health Service. This change will see them working set hours and under national contracts, providing a more structured and cohesive healthcare system.
Where Will They Work?
The new family doctors will be assigned to work in Casal di Comunità (Community Houses), ospedali di comunità (community hospitals), Centrali operative territoriali (Cot), and distretti, collaborating with their colleagues in multi-disciplinary teams. This shift towards community-based care is a key focus of the Pnrr, with over €7 billion allocated to develop the territorial health system.
A Collaborative Approach
Minister of Health, Orazio Schillaci, is spearheading this reform, working closely with regions like Friuli, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, and Lazio to draft a comprehensive new law. The reform aims to integrate family doctors into the broader healthcare system, fostering a collaborative approach that improves patient outcomes and reduces pressure on hospitals and emergency rooms.
Formation and Dual Options
The reform will also redefine the pathway to becoming a family doctor, with postgraduate training moving to a university-based model. New graduates will be designated as employees, while existing doctors will have the option to remain in private practice but must commit to a certain number of hours per week working for the local healthcare district.
The reform, which promises significant changes to Italy’s healthcare system, is currently under technical evaluation. It aims to update the existing legal framework, including the 1992 law 502 and its revisions, to better reflect the needs of a modern healthcare system.
Despite the ambitious timeline, with over 1400 Casal di Comunità set to open nationwide by mid-2024, there are concerns about the risk of ‘white elephants’ or underutilized resources. According to Agenas, a national agency for healthcare services, many existing Casal di Comunità lack adequate staffing, including doctors and pediatricians, posing a challenge to the success of the reform.
With careful planning and effective implementation, Italy’s healthcare transformation could lead to a more integrated, patient-centric system, ultimately improving the health and well-being of citizens nationwide.
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