Emerging policies for controlling medical technology in Italy

This article begins the sketching out the constitutional arrangements in Italy for the distribution of powers among different levels of government. The more important characteristics of the health system are then examined in some detail, the aim being to provide a sufficient basis for understanding the analysis of technology policy which follows later. The mechanisms used for funding medical technology are next described, after which data available on the diffusion of medical equipment are illustrated. Medical technology policies at the national and regional level are examined and an attempt made to appraise their effectiveness. The article concludes with a brief analysis of the possible role played by private medicine in the diffusion of medical technology in Italy.