PALLIATIVE CARE AND COVID-19 PANDEMIC BETWEEN HOSPITAL-CENTRIC BASED APPROACH AND DECENTRALISATION OF HEALTH SERVICES: A VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY TO TURN THE CORNER?

Italy was the first Western EU country to have dealt with the severe effects of the widespread Covid-19 virus since the pandemic began. Many healthcare services were negatively affected, and the delivery of palliative care has been no exception. The Italian healthcare system has suffered more than others due to public spending cuts. The hospital-based approach has not allowed all patients to receive appropriate care. This situation was brought about not only by the pandemic emergency but mainly by pre-existing shortages due to the cut in financial resources before the Covid-19 pandemic. For countries similar to Italy, it is necessary to develop territorialised health care, decongestion hospitals, and strengthen the Third Sector, particularly the voluntary sector.