Coeliac disease: from safe meals to training, after Lombardy also Lazio launches a tailor-made law

Informing citizens, patients and also training health workers but also those in the catering industry who prepare meals. In order to help the many patients suffering from coeliac disease and also to defeat the many fake news surrounding this real permanent inflammatory bowel disease that can only be treated with a gluten-free diet (not to be confused with an allergy), Lombardy and Latium were the first to decide to approve regional laws tailored to help patients. Today, more than 265,000 people in Italy suffer from coeliac disease, a disease that is still little known. But it is the classic tip of the iceberg, because an estimated 400 thousand undiagnosed cases. At the moment, screening for coeliac disease is available for children between the ages of two and ten throughout the country, and once diagnosed, the State grants a bonus, the amount of which is correlated to age group and gender, also in relation to caloric requirements, to help patients afford gluten-free products. But apart from this there is much to be done, especially on the awareness front. Hence the first regional regulations

Just a few days ago, the Latium regional council approved regional law no. 139 ('Interventions in favour of people suffering from coeliac disease and its variant dermatitis herpetiformis'), which allocates one million euro and provides for a number of measures. These include, for example, the activation of an information desk for coeliac disease in the local health authorities, at the competent food hygiene and nutrition structure, which will be aimed not only at people who are intolerant to gluten and their families, but also at those working in the food production, catering, tourism and hotel sector, also in cooperation with the most representative associations and foundations on the subject. Among the programmes and projects that will be financed are in fact those that aim to promote knowledge of coeliac disease and its variant dermatitis herpetiformis and its effects on the body in the family, school, sports and work spheres, as well as the treatment paths currently available. But also those projects for technical and professional training and refresher courses on coeliac disease and food intolerances for people working in food production, catering, tourism and the hotel industry. Training will also concern regional health service personnel - starting with family doctors and paediatricians - with periodic training and professional refresher courses on coeliac disease. Finally, it is planned that the region will carry out information and social awareness campaigns at least every two years.

"The law stems from a real need: the aim is to increase knowledge on the part of catering operators through training and information to accommodate the daily needs of coeliac patients, without forgetting the specific training provided for school staff. The measure is an important first step that also addresses the third sector associations that deal with the issue, in particular the Italian Coeliac Association,' explains Marco Bertucci, President of the Budget Committee of the Lazio Regional Council, which promoted the law. And who points out another important point, namely the expendability of dedicated meal vouchers. "We facilitated a meeting last 20 May to allow these vouchers to be spent even outside the regional borders, and for this we are in dialogue with the other eight regions involved using the same computer system linked to the SSN. Once the law has been passed, we will draw up an official list of catering and hospitality establishments that have taken specific courses on coeliac disease and the administration of food suitable for coeliac patients. Added to this is the need to spend the vouchers also in large-scale distribution: we cannot impose this on companies, but we can certainly incentivise it,' explains the regional councillor of Fratelli d'Italia.

A few days earlier, Lombardy was the first region to adopt a law entirely dedicated to coeliac disease. The law, called 'Norms for the recognition of the social relevance of coeliac disease', is the result of a long process of comparison between institutions, associations and the scientific world. In particular, the Italian Coeliac Disease Association of Lombardy has made available its experience gained in over 46 years of activity in the area. The text envisages a series of concrete measures: from the training of health, school and catering personnel to the promotion of early diagnosis, including through paediatric screening. The law also aims to strengthen awareness campaigns and to guarantee access to safe meals in schools, workplaces and social contexts. "This law is the concrete result of a virtuous collaboration between institutions and civil society," said Isidoro Piarulli, president of AIC Lombardy. "We are proud to have contributed to a text that not only recognises coeliac disease as a clinical condition, but also as a daily challenge that requires protection, awareness and inclusion."