TY  - JOUR
AU  - Belvedere, Katia
AU  - Rossi, Elio
AU  - Di Stefano, Mariella
AU  - Baccetti, Sonia
PY  - 2019
DA  - 2019/04/10
TI  - The Process of Integration of Complementary Medicines in Public Healthcare Service of Tuscany (Italy)
JO  - OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine
SP  - 022
VL  - 04
IS  - 02
AB  - Complementary Medicine (CM) is being increasingly used by European citizens in order to increase their overall state of health and well-being, as well as to treat various illnesses and diseases. The interest for these therapies has progressively risen also in Italy and in Tuscany as well. In response to the increasing demand in the past few years by the Tuscan citizens, the region of Tuscany has started their integration in the healthcare service. Since 1996, the Tuscan Regional Healthcare Plans (RHPs) have been considering the role of Complementary Medicine (acupuncture, herbal medicine and homeopathy). The aim of this article is to describe the pathway and results of the integration process of CM in the public healthcare service in the region of Tuscany (Italy) lasting more than 20 years. The RHPs of Tuscany have started to incorporate several types of CM treatments (i.e., acupuncture, herbal medicine and homeopathy) in 1996, as described in their specific chapter. This represents the highest degree of integration of such therapies in the Public Healthcare system in Italy. Furthermore, the Region of Tuscany decided to include CM in the Essential Levels of Assistance (ELA/LEA) in 2005. Accordingly, a network of 107 public clinics providing CM health services was built (updated to December 2017) and the relative regulations (i.e., laws, bills, resolutions, etc.) were approved by the regional authorities. The Tuscan experience has shown the feasibility of CM integration into the Public Healthcare Service. This innovative process, which is characterized by an inclusive, modern and sustainable approach to the healthcare, might pave the way for a platform aiming to build integrated Healthcare Systems at a national and European level.
SN  - 2573-4393
UR  - https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.icm.1902022
DO  - 10.21926/obm.icm.1902022
ID  - Belvedere2019
ER  -