NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND NEW SERVICE MODELS IN THE ITALIAN DIGITAL HEALTH SECTOR

Abstract

In Italy, the increase in life expectancy of the population is leading to the increase of chronic diseases and motor disabilities of the elderly, with negative consequences on the sustainability of the public health system (Brugiavini et al., 2010; Longo and Ricci, 2017). The Italian national health service has to be supported by additional actors (e.g. public health and social structures, the patient’s family) who take care of sick people (Atella et al., 2017). Considering the high interactivity required in the relationship between these actors and hospitals, digital health technologies can represent a solution for creating a supply chain for taking care of the patient and fostering resource integration between actors involved in such supply chain. To provide a picture of the Italian digital health sector, this paper aims to investigate the fields of digital health in which Italian newcomers are investing. The research methodology involves a review of Italian SMEs, Start-ups and Spin-offs. The work highlights the promising developments of technology in response to the growing needs of patients and families, and provide an overview of Italian newcomers in the digital healthcare sector.