The Ministry of Health has published the essential levels of assistance (Lea) for all Italian regions, making it possible to draw up a ranking of those in which health services are best. Veneto is in the lead, followed by Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany. Lombardy was only sixth, but recovered two positions.
However, the data is very old, in fact it refers to 2024. The LEAs had been reformed to be consistent with the differentiated autonomy reform, which was never approved. However, the general level of Italian healthcare seems to have improved, with only three Regions reporting “inadequacies”.
How the LEAs work and how Italian healthcare is set up
The LEAs are divided into three different macro categories, which represent the cornerstones of the national healthcare system:
- prevention;
- hospital care;
- proximity medicine.
In general, there was an increase in the scores assigned to the Regions by the Ministry. In last year’s report, which referred to 2023, there were eight Regions with at least one deficiency in the three categories. In 2024 they have been reduced to three:
- Sicily, which does not reach the LEAs in prevention;
- the autonomous Province of Bolzano, which does not reach the LEAs in prevention;
- Calabria, which does not reach the Lea in local medicine.
In general, levels of assistance are growing throughout Italy, both in prevention and in district assistance. On the other hand, the quality of hospital care is decreasing at a national level, without however going below the minimum. At a regional level, the South catches up in various aspects with respect to the Northern Regions, but remains clearly distanced.
The 10 Regions with the best healthcare
The Lea ranking offers the possibility of comparing the Regions. The best are:
- Veneto with 288 points;
- Emilia-Romagna with 282 points;
- Tuscany with 280 points;
- Piedmont with 272 points;
- the autonomous Province of Trento with 271 points;
- Lombardy with 270 points;
- Umbria with 254 points;
- Liguria with 250 points;
- Friuli Venezia Giulia with 248 points;
- Puglia with 242 points.
It is clear that the Central and Northern Regions, especially those with a local policy with a strong identity, are the best. Veneto confirms the 2023 results, like Tuscany. Lombardy rises from eighth place in the last survey. Puglia, tenth, is the only region in the South.
The 10 regions where healthcare is worst
The ranking then continues, from best to worst, with the other Regions and with the Autonomous Province of Bolzano:
- the Marche with 237 points;
- Lazio with 237 points;
- Abruzzo with 229 points;
- Valle d’Aosta with 213 points;
- Sardinia with 212 points;
- Campania with 209 points;
- the Autonomous Province of Bolzano with 206 points;
- Basilicata with 205 points;
- Sicily with 196 points;
- Molise with 192 points;
- Calabria with 189 points.
Almost all the Southern Regions are found in this part of the ranking, with some obvious exceptions. In fact, if the Aosta Valley always has statistics that need to be contextualized given its size, the Autonomous Province of Bolzano is surprisingly behind, especially compared to other statistics, such as those on quality of life, which often see it at the top.
