© 2010 Brighton Collaboration
Italy: Sicily regional database
In the Italian NHS, under the principles of universal coverage, the Regional Health Authorities are in charge of the health of the citizens; they translate national policies at the regional level, and define financial boundaries, policy and planning to be implemented at the next level of the Local Health Authorities (usually corresponding to a Province).
Regional Health Authorities in Sicily have established a comprehensive system of health-related automated databases, most of which based on reimbursement claims generated by residents (or non-residents temporarily living in the region, but registered with the Regional Health System).
Recorded data include, among others:
• demographic data (date of birth, gender, place of residence, …),
• all reimbursed hospitalizations (ICD-9-CM code; detail on date of admission and discharge, all discharge diagnoses, surgical procedures, reimbursed cost, …),
• pharmaceutical prescriptions (ATC code; detail on active principle, date, type and number of prescribed packages, …, but no indication),
Approval for the use of data has to be requested to the Regional Health Authorities.