Italy Cross-country analysis of the use of EU Recovery and Resilience Funds
Based on interviews with experts from the Regional Healthcare and Social Affairs Agency of Puglia (AReSS) and the Region of Tuscany.
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Key findings from interviews with experts
Poverty risks have increased and are likely to worsen by both recent and long-term challenges (climate change, geopolitics balance, energy crisis, pandemic waves, supply chain and digital transformation).
Overall, experts provided positive feedback on the RRP. The large investment plan will put a number of projects in place and carry out much-needed structural reforms that would not have been possible otherwise.
Working conditions of healthcare workers should be improved (namely salaries) to attract new employees in areas where shortages are particularly high, such as primary and emergency care.
The Italian Recovery and Resilience Plan A short overview
| POLICY AREA 4: Education and research | |
|---|---|
| INVESTMENTS | RRF (m/€) |
| Strengthening the provision of education services at all levels through an educational reform | 19.44 |
| POLICY AREA 6: Health | |
|---|---|
| INVESTMENTS | RRF (m/€) |
| Local networks, facilities and telemedicine for local healthcare (to improve the national health system) | 7.00 |
| Innovation, research and digitalisation of the national health service to strengthen the infrastructure | 8.63 |
| POLICY AREA 5: Inclusion and cohesion | |
|---|---|
| INVESTMENTS | RRF (m/€) |
| Employment policies (focusing on active labour market policies, strengthening of public employment services, upskilling and reskilling initiatives) | 6.66 |
| Social infrastructure, households, the community and the third sector (addressing major social vulnerabilities in terms of material poverty and housing deprivation, and acknowledging the importance of urban regeneration and sport) | 11.17 |
| Special interventions for territorial cohesion (investment for tackling education poverty, reform and infrastructural investment in special economic zones) | 1.98 |
2022 Country specific recommendations for health equity
Each spring, the European Commission and European Council make Country Specific Recommendations to provide tailored advice to individual Member States on how to boost jobs, growth and investment, while maintaining sound public finances.
Italian Country Specific Recommendations 2022 that are most relevant for health equity
1. Ensure prudent fiscal policy, […], taking into account continued temporary and targeted support to households and firms most vulnerable to energy price hikes and to people fleeing Ukraine. […] Expand public investment for the green and digital transition and for energy security […]
Country Report 2022
The accompanying Country Report analyse each EU Member State’s key socioeconomic challenges with the aim of providing a framework for the coordination of social and economic policies across the European Union.
Italy's 2022 report contained a number of elements that are directly relevant to health equity.
Project under the RRP
Coordinating care services for those most vulnerable
Increasing the number of primary healthcare units and improving quality of care contribute to better health outcomes and accessibility of services.
The project 'Community House' will become primary care homes that are used as a tool to coordinate care services, especially for those who are chronically ill.
The project will act as a single point of access to health services engaging with a multidisciplinary team, including general practitioners, paediatricians of choice, specialist doctors, community nurses, and other health professionals as well as social workers. Using IT infrastructure, a sampling point, and multi-specialist instrumentation the project aims to act as a continuous point of reference for the population. The investment provides for the activation of 1,350 community homes by mid-2026, which will use both new and existing structures.
Other projects under the Italian Recovery and Resilience Plan
Suggestions for the future
Tackle gender inequalities
Provide better financial support and services for families
Foster the health equity perspective
Enforce more integrated approaches
Address workforce shortages
Strengthen primary care settings
Ensure an effective digital transition of health systems
“I believe the RRP missed the opportunity to include equity and wellbeing, as transversal issues to be addressed in a one health/health in all policies approach. Fortunately, there are other funds, such as Cohesion Fund, that come in useful in this regard.”
Expert at the Regional Healthcare and Social Affairs Agency of Pulgia (AReSS), Italy
“Gender inequalities are still a major concern in Italy. In some cases, even if the tools are available, they are not implemented. It is therefore necessary to work and invest not only in settings and services, but also in a cultural change to move away from archaic patriarchal systems.”
Expert at the Region of Tuscany, Italy
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