San Giovanni Battista Hospital opens new animal-assisted therapy area

Ospedale San Giovanni Battista in Rome has inaugurated a new animal-assisted therapy area designed to enhance rehabilitation for patients with chronic, degenerative, and neurological conditions. The expansion includes 760 square meters of dedicated facility space and over 7,700 square meters of outdoor areas, featuring equine therapy tracks, a therapeutic garden, and a 14,500-square-meter woodland area known as ‘Bosco Vivo’.

The project, promoted by the Order of Malta with funding from the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation, integrates non-pharmacological interventions into clinical protocols. Clinical data from the facility indicates positive outcomes in 92% of cases treated since 2016, specifically among patients recovering from physical trauma, comas, and Parkinson’s disease.

During the inauguration, Italian Undersecretary of State for Health Marcello Gemmato highlighted the importance of patient-centered care and the need to address the challenges of an aging population. He noted that integrating such therapies into the national healthcare system can contribute to long-term sustainability by improving the management of chronic illnesses.