Abstract ID: 3.13331 | Accepted as Poster | Talk | TBA | TBA

The protection of mountain and rural areas is a fundamental principle strongly enshrined in the Italian Constitution, particularly in Articles 44, 32 and 117. Specifically, Article 44 promotes special measures for mountain areas, recognising the need to rebalance territories. Article 32, on the other hand, guarantees health as a fundamental right of the individual and collective interest, requiring the State to guarantee access to health care even in disadvantaged areas. Furthermore, Article 117 delegates responsibility to regions over healthcare, and not only, allowing for policies designed to address the uncommon issues of inner areas. In addition to the constitutional provisions, the national legal framework includes several laws that promote territorial development and the maintenance of essential services. Law 97/1994 on mountains introduces key measures to support the socio-economic development of mountain areas, while Law 158/2017 on small municipalities aims to reduce depopulation and improve essential services. Similarly Legislative Decree 267/2000 regulates the functions of local authorities, thus promoting effective governance tools for the management of public services. Concerning health care, the protection of public health in mountain and rural areas remains a critical issue. In this regard, several national initiatives provide key solutions. In particular, the National Plan for Chronic Diseases, Ministerial Decree 77/2022 and the development of telemedicine, financed by the PNRR – Mission 6 Health, play an important role in improving access to health services. Digital healthcare and telemedicine offer innovative solutions to overcome geographical barriers, safeguarding continuity of care, remote patient monitoring and specialist medical consultations in areas with limited healthcare facilities. Despite this detailed framework, challenges remain, depopulation, limited access to essential services, etc. Therefore, to effectively revitalise mountain and rural areas, the current legislative framework needs to be modernised and improved. This requires the adoption of more flexible governance models, increased investment in health infrastructure, digitisation and telemedicine. Ultimately, a comprehensive and forward-looking approach is needed to ensure equal access to opportunities and services, while embracing digital innovations that can fill existing gaps in public health and service delivery.