From the health fund to the elderly card, the 10 key measures

More funds for around 3.5 billion in total for the National Health System in 2027, a seniors' card to help those over 75 with low income to cover medical expenses, 300 million euros to cut waiting lists and also funds to fight Alzheimer's: these are some of the ten key measures envisaged by the budget for the world of healthcare.

Here are the top ten.

- HEALTH, 2.4 BILLION MORE IN 2027. There is an increase in the National Health Service fund of 2.4 billion in 2027, 2.3 billion per year in the two-year period 2028-2029. In total, the resources for next year reach 146.3 billion, adding the billion already allocated with the 2026 budget.

- MORE VISITS AND TESTS TO REDUCE WAITING LISTS. In 2027 the Regions will have 300 million (within the Health Fund) for additional services for public staff: 213 million for doctors and 87 million for other operators.

- FIRST AID ALLOWANCE, 380 MILLION MORE. From 2027, the resources for emergency room allowances will increase by 380 million per year, again from the Health Fund. 114 million will go to doctors, 266 million to other operators.

- HOSPITALIZATIONS, 500 MILLION A YEAR TO UPDATE RATES. From 2027, half a billion from the Health Fund will be allocated to updating the maximum rates recognized for hospital admissions for acute pathologies.

- ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA, ANOTHER 100 MILLION FOR ASSISTANCE. For 2027 alone, 100 million euros more for assistance to people suffering from Alzheimer's and other forms of senile dementia.

- 300 EURO HEALTH CARD FOR 5.5 MILLION ELDERLY PEOPLE. A 300 euro card will arrive in 2027 for pensioners to purchase goods and healthcare benefits. Those who are 75 years old by the end of 2026 and have an income of no more than 28 thousand euros in 2025 will be able to benefit. The potential audience is approximately 5.46 million elderly people. An ad hoc fund of 1.6 billion has been established.

- INNOVATIVE DRUGS, FUNDS TO EARLY ACCESS. Experimental mechanism for 3 years to allow patients suffering from serious diseases to have early access to certain drugs. The resources, up to 70 million a year, come from the Fund for Innovative Medicines.

- PHARMACEUTICALS, HIGHEST SPENDING CAP. From 2028, the ceiling for direct purchases of medicines will increase by 0.2 percentage points, reaching 9% of national healthcare financing, for a cost of 292 million. From 2027, there will also be a reduction in the payback - the contribution that companies must pay to the Regions when the pharmaceutical spending ceilings are exceeded - for companies that make additional investments in Italy in research and innovation.

- MEDICAL DEVICES, 1.4 BILLION FOR BACKGROUND PAYBACK. We intervene on the dispute relating to the payback of medical devices. For the period from 2019 to 2023, it is approximately 4 billion: the State takes on 1.4 billion, allocating 350 million per year from 2028 to 2031. Furthermore, from 2027, the national ceiling for purchases of medical devices will rise to 4.7%.

- ACCREDITED PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS, THE SPENDING CAP RISES. From 2027, the spending limit for the purchase of healthcare services from accredited private facilities will increase by 3 percentage points. 365 million per year are needed from the funds already provided.