Good news from Europe: on October 15th, the European Investment Bank disbursed the first tranche of resources aimed at strengthening Italian healthcare. Priorities include the development and implementation of digital infrastructure and remote assistance and monitoring systems.
“This operation makes the necessary liquidity immediately available on favorable terms (these are fifteen-year loans, editor’s note) for the immediate enhancement of healthcare facilities, also to address emergencies caused by COVID-19,” stated Dario Scannapieco, Vice President of the EIB.
Investments to be Realized
The loaned capital will be used to finance interventions included in the emergency plans prepared by the regions in response to the pandemic. The funds will be allocated to strengthen the hospital network with 8,025 intensive and semi-intensive care beds, the renovation of 651 emergency rooms; consumables and medical equipment; medical transport vehicles and additional healthcare staff, including temporary staff, for 9,600 units, as well as support for community care, with the strengthening of infrastructure and digital systems for home and residential care and remote monitoring, and the activation of regional operational centers for patient monitoring.
This is an opportunity not to be missed to modernize and make the national healthcare system more efficient. It is time to make a qualitative leap that will enable our hospitals and the overall care network to meet current and future challenges more effectively.
