Health Care and its Financing in Italy: Issues and Reform Options
October 1, 2000
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Summary
In Italy, health care budget ceilings are not effective. The poor control by the central government results in excessive use of expensive inputs, in long waiting lines for medical procedures, and in the emergence of large arrears to suppliers and commercial banks. To fully gain the benefits of its decentralized structure, Italy needs to clarify the rules of the game and strengthen controls on local health authorities. Full fiscal responsibility should be extended to local governments on both the expenditure and revenue sides. The central government should be involved neither in decisions on the services that local governments should supply, nor in their planning and management.
Subject: Arrears, Expenditure, External debt, Health, Health care, Health care spending
Keywords: accrual expenditure, Arrears, authorities claim, expenditure overrun, expenditure side, expenditure undervaluation, government, government debt-accounting problem, government funding, Health care, Health care spending, health indicator, health program manager, health sector deficit, lack of responsibility, Public health care in Italy, regional authorities, WP
Pages:
28
Volume:
2000
DOI:
Issue:
166
Series:
Working Paper No. 2000/166
Stock No:
WPIEA1662000
ISBN:
9781451858099
ISSN:
1018-5941
