The Italian plan for the NextGenerationEU appears to be struggling, with the deadline for submission to the European Commission approaching on April 30.
Approval of the Italian plan is crucial to access the funds provided by Brussels through the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the main tool of Next Generation EU: the €750 billion package of grants and loans approved last July to help countries affected by the economic crisis triggered by COVID.
The plan aims to “digitalize all clinical and hospital care processes at level II DEA facilities, with particular focus on operating room systems, Laboratory Information Systems, MRI, pharmacy services, emergency rooms, acceptance/discharge/transfer systems, medication prescribing and administration, imaging diagnostics, repositories, and order entry.”
Processes will follow simplified procedures, with interim goals and targets, but national resources will not be required to report to Brussels, and in some cases, spending may extend beyond 2026.
For “Digitalization, Innovation, Competitiveness,” €42.55 billion is allocated (€38.25 billion for new projects); for “Green Revolution and Ecological Transition,” €57 billion (€34.6 billion); for “Infrastructure for Sustainable Mobility,” €25.33 billion; for “Education and Research,” €31.88 billion; for “Inclusion and Cohesion,” €19.12 billion; and for the health sector, €15.63 billion is designated for direct investments.
After years of cuts to healthcare and funds spent without real improvements in services and working conditions for operators, we believe that, at least for Italian healthcare (which is the largest beneficiary of EU funds), it is reasonable to demand that we ACT QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY to avoid missing out on an opportunity that won’t come around again.
Pragmatism and speed: let’s think about the future of our children and our patients above all else and not miss this chance!
