The pandemic made the world’s health systems struggle harder than ever before. However, as Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte recently declared, “Italy’s national health system is outstanding.” The results, indeed, are outstanding. The staff (over)working in hospitals — and other members of the medical world — demonstrated utmost dedication. But what about the system itself? Maybe, we need to reconsider the State’s healthcare policies.

The Sistema Sanitario Nazionale — the Italian NHS — was first established in 1978 with the aim of providing equal and necessary treatments to all members of the population without discrimination. In fact, often this is not the case. During the peak of the pandemic, a reflection began on the importance of a stable and working health system.