Regional disparities threaten fair access to health services
Italian healthcare is undergoing a significant transformation with the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI), offering innovative solutions to enhance efficiency, diagnosis, and disease management. AI-based algorithms, capable of analyzing X-rays and CT scans, allow faster and more precise diagnoses. A notable example is the Sybil algorithm, which can predict the risk of developing lung cancer within six years using a CT scan.
Additionally, chatbots and virtual assistants are reshaping patient interactions with the healthcare system by providing basic health information, answering common questions, and directing users to the appropriate resources. AI facilitates the management and analysis of vast clinical data volumes, improving patient monitoring, enabling secure information sharing among healthcare professionals, and contributing to the development of personalized therapies. The Sphinks algorithm, created by Italian scientists, exemplifies this by tailoring cancer treatments to individual patients.
However, despite these advancements, Italian healthcare remains deeply affected by inequalities between Northern and Southern regions, a disparity that also impacts access to care. Northern regions such as Veneto, Tuscany, Trentino, and Emilia-Romagna lead in providing high-quality healthcare services, whereas southern regions like Calabria, Sicily, and Abruzzo face serious resource and facility shortcomings.
An Assessment conducted by the Ministry of Health shows that Northern regions significantly exceed the essential levels of care (LEA), while many Southern regions fail to meet required standards. Additionally, per capita health expenditure in the North is considerably higher, leading to greater resource availability and better services. The shortage of healthcare personnel is particularly severe in the South, where working conditions and career opportunities are often less attractive than in the North.
Artificial intelligence offers a remarkable opportunity to address some of these inequalities, but alone it cannot bridge the existing gap. For AI to serve as a true driver of improvement for the entire healthcare system, it is essential to tackle the disparities between North and South and promote a fairer distribution of innovative technologies. AI's full potential can only be realized through a wide adoption of digital solutions across the country, ensuring that all citizens receive quality healthcare.
Professor Antonio Giordano, M.D., Ph.D., is the creator and head of the Sbarro Health Research Organization, located at Temple University's College of Science and Technology in Philadelphia. Stay connected with him through his various social media platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram, to receive the latest updates.
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