SCELTE DI SPESA E TREND EPIDEMIOLOGICI: UN MODELLO DI SIMULAZIONE

THE REPORT SALUTE ITALIA 2008 AIMS AT ESTIMATING THE HEALTH NEEDS OF THE ITALIAN POPULATION BY 2028 AS A PLANNING TOOL THAT CAN BE USED IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS. THE DEVELOPMENT OF FORECAST, TRENDS AND SCENARIOS IS HELPFUL IN IDENTIFYING THE ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN WITH AN EVIDENCED-BASED APPROACH, IN ORDER TO TRY TO ALIGN THE HEALTH SERVICES SUPPLY WITH THE EMERGING HEALTH NEEDS. THE ANALYSIS IS BASED ON A SET OF INDICATORS RECOGNIZED AT THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL. MOST DATE DERIVE FROM ITALIAN OBSERVATORY HEALTHCARE REPORT AND STATISTICAL MODELS HAVE BEEN USED TO ESTIMATE FUTURE TREND. AN EFFORT WAS MADE TO DEVOLOP A METHODOLOGY ABLE TO LINK THE TRENDS EMERGED TO THE ECONOMIC-FINANCIAL AND SUPPLY PERSPECTIVE. THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS WHICH WILL BE THE PECULIAR NEEDS OF THE ITALIAN POPULATION AND THE MAIN CRITICAL SITUATIONS IN THE SPAN TIME CONSIDERED. CORE INDICATORS HAVE BEEN SELECTED AND ANALYZED REGARDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS: DEMOGRAPHIC SCENARIO, BURDEN OF DISEASE, INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK AND HEALTH CARE EXPENDITURE. THE FINANCIAL CRISIS IN ITALY CAN AFFECT SUBSTANTIALLY THE CRUCIAL SECTOR OF THE HEALTH CARE. THE SPENDING REVIEW PROCESS SHOULD AVOID HORIZONTAL POLICIES THAT CAN REDUCE THE HEALTH EXPENDITURE IN THE SHORT TERM, BUT RESULTING IN THE LONG TERM INA REDUCTION OF THE HEALTH SERVICES COVERED AND, THUS, OF THE HEALTH STATUS OF THE POPULATION.