ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a synoptic outline of the health scene in Italy, the data for which comes from official statistics and from some ad hoc research. Practically speaking, Italy moved away from a health care system that was mainly based on individual voluntary contributions or provided by the Municipal Authorities. Between 1992 and 1993 a series of laws was passed to reorganise the National Health Care Service. These laws, which formed the basis for the planning system identified by the 1978 Reform Act, empowered State, regional and local units and for the first time foresaw that both the Local Health Units and the main hospitals could be turned into enterprises. In the new health reorganisation in Italy the role played by the municipalities is linked to the districts which are the most decentralised components of the National Health Care Service.
