Calabria tops Italy in health service gains per spending rise

A policy paper by ALTEMS (Alta Scuola di Economia e Management dei Sistemi Sanitari) examined the Italian National Health Service from 2020 to 2024 and found that Calabria achieved the greatest improvement in Essential Levels of Assistance (LEA) relative to the rise in per‑capita health spending.

During the five‑year period the region increased health expenditure by €314 per resident while its average LEA score grew by about 20 points, a 46 % uplift. This translates to roughly €16 of additional spending for each LEA point gained, the most efficient ratio among Italian regions.

Liguria and Lombardy followed, with extra spending of €305 and €258 per resident and LEA gains of 17 and 12.5 points respectively. Calabria’s combined score for prevention, district and hospital care rose 59.7 points (from 129.4 to 189), although district assistance remains below the target.

The analysis was reported in a Sole 24 Ore health supplement, indicating that regions under long‑term recovery plans can improve performance despite earlier difficulties.