Digitalisation in proximity health care services in Italy

An analysis upon possible different trajectories and the key role of both GPs and patients

Bibliographic Data

ID20201818
AuthorsGianluca Antonucci (0000-0002-4118-573X, DEA – Department of Management and Business Administration, Gabriele d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara), Antonio D’Andreamatteo (0000-0002-9590-9262, Department of Management and Business Administration, Gabriele d’Annunzio University of Chieti and Pescara)
Year2026
Volume38
Issue1
Pages17-35
Publication date2026-02-09
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Public Budgeting Accounting & Financial Management (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1096-3367 • E-ISSN: 1945-1814
PublisherEmerald (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1108/jpbafm-09-2024-0190
OpenAlexW4414483219
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited76

Purpose We aim to uncover challenges in the digitalisation of health services in a public healthcare system in circumstances of major changes in primary care. The focus is on the response and impact on health professionals of a national policy designed to foster, among others things, the use of telemedicine in the changing setting of territorial assistance. For the first time a huge budget (8.6 billion, Mission 6 of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan – PNNR) by the central government was planned to favour the diffusion of e-health, after decades of unsuccessful attempts. Design/methodology/approach Applying a qualitative approach and triangulating data gathered through document analysis, semi-structured interviews and focus groups, we detected insights on the ongoing digitalisation of public primary healthcare services. Findings Our results confirm that a huge problem in the health sector is not innovation per se and, in this case, not even budget allocation, but the dissemination of innovative concepts. A fundamental role in the shift towards community care has been found in the general practitioners, seen as change agents and strategic promoters. Further, our research highlights the need of “educating/training” both health professionals and patients, thus revealing the importance of really creating a co-production scheme for developing an effective digitalised system. Originality/value Being among the first papers at the intersection between public health care and the impact of PNNR, our study suggests policymakers rethink ways of designing public policies about digitalisation and telemedicine

Focus group · Health care · Psychological resilience · Public health · Public sector · Qualitative research · Chronic Disease Management Strategies · Healthcare Systems and Technology · Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation

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Open DOIOpen Access