Major Italian hospitals are climbing the global rankings; half of them are in Lombardy and Lazio

The Policlinico Gemelli in Rome ranks third in the world for Obstetrics and Gynaecology, whilst the Bambino Gesù – also in the capital (albeit within the territory of the Holy See) just off the podium in fourth place for Paediatrics, followed by the Besta in Milan in eighth place for Neurology and the Rizzoli in Bologna in ninth place for Orthopaedics. Alongside these top Italian hospitals, which are climbing the rankings to enter the world’s top ten – a field dominated by the US – there are a further 38 Italian hospitals that have joined the club of the ‘best’ across 13 medical specialities, as listed in the ‘World’s Best Specialised Hospitals 2027’ ranking, compiled by Newsweek in collaboration with Statista. Last year, there were 41 Italian hospitals in this ranking (one fewer), but, more importantly, they were in lower positions – proof that excellence in Italian hospitals can compete despite the fact that our National Health Service often has to make do with far fewer resources than our competitors. Of course, these rankings are not set in stone and are open to interpretation, given that the Newsweek and Statista ranking is based on three components: an international survey of doctors, with over 42,000 responses collected between last May and June, which accounts for 83.5 per cent of the score; national and international accreditations (10 per cent); and patient feedback, known as PROMs (6.5 per cent). But there is no doubt that, at least in terms of reputation, our hospitals hold their own very well.

So, is everything all right then? Not quite, because even in this ranking the disparity between regions is clearly evident, and consequently it is impossible for millions of Italian patients to access high-quality care close to home. Of the 42 Italian hospitals included in the ranking, the majority are located in Lombardy (15) and Lazio (7), followed by Piedmont (5), whilst Campania, Tuscany and Veneto are each represented by three hospitals. This is confirmed by data on patient mobility, with tens of thousands travelling from the south to the north every year (see separate article on this page). In particular, there are nine Italian centres of excellence that have been ranked for cardiac surgery, occupying places starting from 28th place, held by the Monzino. In cardiology, out of the 300 hospitals listed, 21 are Italian and are ranked between 22nd (with San Raffaele in Milan) and 277th. Among the top 150 centres for endocrinology, there are nine Italian ones, ranging from 29th place (the Policlinico Gemelli in Rome) to 138th, and amongst the top 175 hospitals for gastroenterology, there are ten Italian ones, ranked between 11th (Policlinico Gemelli) and 154. There are two Italian centres amongst the top 100 for nephrology (ranks 35 and 47) and four amongst the top 150 for neurology, with the Besta Foundation in Milan in eighth place. In neurosurgery, four Italian hospitals feature amongst the 125 ranked institutions, with the Besta Foundation in eleventh place. In obstetrics and gynaecology, as mentioned, the Gemelli Polyclinic is third in the ranking of 125 hospitals, which includes six Italian institutions. Italy’s presence amongst the 300 best hospitals for oncology is particularly significant, with 15 hospitals featured. The IEO in Milan is fourteenth. In orthopaedics, eight of the top 150 hospitals are Italian, with the Rizzoli Hospital in Bologna ranked ninth; whilst in paediatrics, 11 of the top 250 hospitals are Italian, with the Bambino Gesù Hospital in fourth place. Finally, eight of the top 150 Italian hospitals specialise in respiratory medicine, and five of the top 125 specialise in urology.