Strokes: 90,000 hospital admissions, 20 per cent of which are due to recurrent strokes. Schillaci: ‘Prevention and prompt treatment’

Health Minister Orazio Schillaci, speaking at an event on the subject in the Senate in Rome, emphasised that ‘of the 90,000 hospital admissions for stroke, 20 per cent are due to recurrences’. “It is possible to prevent strokes,” he said, “starting with adopting healthy lifestyles. The Ministry of Health is actively committed to promoting healthy behaviours and raising public awareness of risk factors. I am thinking, in particular, of a balanced diet, regular physical activity, tackling smoking and addiction, as well as managing conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.”

Schillaci is keen to point out that ‘there is a new National Prevention Plan for 2026–2031, which sets out a clear strategy aimed at making interventions more effective and consistent across the whole country, with particular regard to chronic non-communicable diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases’. And ‘an additional 50 million euros has been allocated to local prevention initiatives for 2026, in the belief that investing in health protection also means reducing the burden of disease on the National Health Service’, he points out.

The other pillar is immediate intervention, which is crucial for a time-sensitive condition. In the case of a stroke – as the Minister observes, echoing the Day’s slogan – “every minute counts”: ‘Recognising the symptoms straight away and acting swiftly really does make the difference between regaining function and permanent disability, with all that this entails,’ warns the Health Minister. ‘Italia has time-sensitive networks of excellence, with specialised facilities and professionals of the very highest calibre. Obviously, the commitment is to ensure that these networks are accessible uniformly throughout the country. The regional disparities that still exist must be overcome, and coordination between the emergency services, stroke units and specialist centres must be improved. The effectiveness of these networks depends on collaboration between the various services and professionals, the speed of diagnosis, and the ability to refer the patient to the most suitable facility in time to receive the most appropriate treatment.

Continuity of care, access to rehabilitation, adherence to treatment and adequate support for family members are also key factors in preventing the risk of further incidents. The Ministry of Health has already carried out in-depth work on this within the framework of the Italian Alliance for Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, which has resulted in a document dedicated to the long-term rehabilitation care of stroke survivors. This document, ‘the result of collaboration between institutions, scientific societies and patient organisations, emphasises the need for personalised programmes and care capable of supporting the individual even in the years following the acute episode. The point of discharge from hospital is particularly delicate for this type of patient’.

Synergy between hospitals and the local community is essential for a personalised rehabilitation programme tailored to each individual. “We need to involve more healthcare professionals,” says the Minister. “ “The aim is to avoid interruptions in care and to support the recovery of as much independence as possible, including in family, social and working life.” And it is precisely in this regard that “the reform of community care takes on particular significance; we are implementing this through investments under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and the implementation of Ministerial Decree 77,” he added, noting that the more than 1,200 community care centres already open “are gradually becoming fully operational and are set to become genuine points of reference for citizens, through care provision that is more closely attuned to their needs and greater integration between GPs, specialists and local services”.

Telemedicine and telerehabilitation also play a part, as they ‘can complement traditional treatments and, where appropriate, enable certain rehabilitation activities to be carried out remotely, whilst maintaining contact with healthcare professionals’. ‘This,’ concluded Schillaci, ‘is a change that must be consolidated: a National Health Service in which hospitals and local services work in close collaboration and every citizen can access appropriate care, regardless of where they live and, above all, regardless of their income.’