Islet transplantation in Italy

Two centers have now an active islet transplant program in Italy, both placed in Milan: the San Raffaele Scientific Institute and the Niguarda Hospital. Up to 2018 in Italy about 200 patients affected by type 1 diabetes mellitus received an islet allotransplantation and about 100 patients received an islet auto-transplantation after a partial or total pancreatectomy. In spite of this large volume of activities, there is not a specific reimbursement fee for islet isolation and current reimbursement based on the Diagnosis-related group covers only partially the hospitalization and the islet transplantation costs.