July 19th, 2009 
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Italy’s national health care is rated second in the world by the WHO. However, a closer look will show that there is trouble plaguing this system from a crippling bureaucracy, mismanagement, general disorganization, spiraling cost, and long waiting lines.
The Italian constitution was changed in 2001 so that the national government now sets the “essential levels of care” and regional governments still control their budgets and resources to the local areas.
- Payroll taxes have a regressive structure starting at 10.6 percent of the first $30,000 of gross income and decreasing to 4.6 percent up to $100,000 gross income. The remainder of the funding comes from both federal and regional general taxation, including income and value-added taxes.
- In-patient and primary care are free at the point of treatment. However, co-payments are required for diagnostic procedures, specialist, and Rx drugs. The copays run around 30 percent of the services rendered. The elderly, pregnant women and children are exempt from the copays–which is nearly 40 percent of the population.
- Italians have limited choice of physicians. They must register with a general practitioner within their LHA. They may choose any GP in the LHA, but may not go outside it except for emergency care. A referral from a GP is required for diagnostic services, hospitalization, and treatment by a specialist.
- Most physicians are reimbursed on a capitated basis, which is based on the number of patients served over a given time period rather than the services actually provided. Some hospital physicians receive a monthly salary.
- Private health insurance is available in Italy but is not widespread. About 10 percent of Italians have private insurance, and the low percentage is due that one cannot opt out of the national care system.
- Waiting periods on average for medical care: 70 days for a mammogram, 74 days for endoscopies, and 23 days for a sonogram. This is due to shortage of modern medical technology.
- The US has two times as many MRI units per million people and 25 percent more CT scanners.
- Introduction of many of the newest and most innovative Rx drugs have been blocked by the Italian government to control Rx cost.
- Conditions in public hospitals are considered substandard, particularly in the south.
- Dissatisfaction with the Italian health care system is extremely high, by some measures the highest in Europe. Fifty-five percent of Italians believe that it should be easier for patients to spend their own money on health care.
Italy is the 4th most visited country in the world. Before you travel, know these important travel tips for Italy:
- In an emergency, dial 113 – Italy’s equivalent to our 911
- The best months for visiting Italy are April-May and October
- Avoid Rome and Venice in July and August – the Triple H: too humid, too hot, too many humans
- Women should consider not sightseeing with a purse – put the money in your pocket, and keep the hair brush and lipstick back at the hotel
- Gelatto ice cream cones are a must – plan on gaining weight
- Using hand-held cellular phones while driving is prohibited
- If your car breaks down, dial 116 for breakdown service
- If invited to someone’s home, the traditional gift is a tray of sweets from a pastry shop.
Watch the video related to women health care
Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, discusses the Bush administrations midnight regulation, which will undermine health care access at nearly 600000 health care centers, pharmacies, and hospitals across the country. To take action, visit www.ppaction.org
Help answer the question about women health care
Women Health Care After Taliban HELPDue 2morrow!!!?Hi, I'm in the 6th grade and i need help because this project is due tomorrow and basically what i need to know is how was the women's health after the Taliban left Afghanistan and how the health care has changed INCLUDE WEBSITES PLEEEZZZZEE.
ANS PLEASE HURRY!!! Thank You!
I'm not out of school yet okay JUST ANSWER MY QUESTION PLZ!!!!
Most of the wikipedia info I've found stinks plz give me specific info like the entire URL.
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Not all who are against abortion are religious, just as not all who are OK with abortion are atheists…its 2009, and not the same right vs left, religious vs non-religious fight over abortion anymore.
Bush is incredible, and so are some of your comments. A.K.A. idiocy.
Here are some links that I hope help. You will probably have the best luck with the last link I supplied. Also tell your friend to drink cranberry juice it will help a lot.
Socialized Health Care will raise our taxes from 30% to over 65%, can you afford that?
P-A-R-E-N-T-H-O-O-D requires children.
I’ve been getting e-mails about this and fighting it since August. Bush is going to get more than a show flung at his head.
No, it’s just forcing Clinics to hire people as nurses who believe in a mythical being and fictional book over science and reality.
No, but I know the doctors at Brookside Associates in Winnetka are absolutely awesome and delivered all of my kids.
This rule is going to cause a mess…how about the Bush government focusing on the Dow dropping 5000 points instead of trying to push this ridiculous waste of time onto the American people. Great job republicans! Keep digging yourself into deeper holes!
planned parenthood sounds perfect for you- you probably will be able to get at least a discount, if not free services and they will cover all types of female health, even primary care, physicals, immunizations, prenatal care, and diabetes screenings. the one where i live has a bus stop right in front so you can probably take your local bus or some sort of public transportation to your clinic. check them out here: http://www.plannedparenthood.org
Where is the proof of this? There are no documents provided either here or on the petition website. If there are truly documents backing what she’s saying, I’d be willing to accept this and be concerned, but if she’s just going on about something without a shred of proof, all I can think is that she’s stirring something up.
doesn’t the first amendment apply to health-care providers as well? no one is forcing you to go to a religious doctor – but why force a doctor or nurse to violate their religion? liberals are only tolerant of those who agree with them
That was very disturbing to me
The Government shouldn’t have to “force” anyone in a hospital to give out the correct and up-to-date information they need for any illness or injury. The hospital is not a debate on CNN or at church. The hospital is a place of healing and everyone deserves to be told all of their options.
If churches want into Government, make them pay taxes.
http://www.Wikipedia.com is all you need to know.
No answer even though I know it. Learn to use the web to research for yourself. And do your own homework. Using caps does not make us wanna help you any more.
Becoming? I though we already are.
I think things have only improved by a small margin. The Afghans still have the one of the worst healthcare systems in the world.
Googled "Afghanistan women's healthcare."
http://www.frif.com/new2006/afgh.html
http://fpc.state.gov/fpc/15825.htm
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/SOUTHASIAEXT/0,,contentMDK:21243975~pagePK:146736~piPK:146830~theSitePK:223547,00.html
Smear testing, I am pregnant with my 4th child, I have NEVER had a smear. I know that's bad, but I just never liked the idea for obvious reasons, and i've never been pushed to have one.