The Italian health system and the COVID-19 challenge

Italy is facing a massive burden from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Since Feb 21, 2020, when the first case of COVID-19 was recorded in Italy, the National Healthcare Service, which offers universal access to health care, has faced increasing pressure, with 41 035 total cases of COVID-19 and 3405 deaths as of March 19, 2020.1Ministry of Health of ItalyCOVID-19 situazione in Italia.http://www.salute.gov.it/portale/nuovocoronavirus/dettaglioContenutiNuovoCoronavirus.jsp?lingua=italiano&id=5351&area=nuovoCoronavirus&menu=vuotoDate: March 19, 2020Date accessed: March 20, 2020Google Scholar In the most affected regions, the National Healthcare Service is close to collapse—the results of years of…