The National Health Service: ARS Crossroads – Current Affairs

The National Health Service (SNS) is going through one of the most pivotal moments in its 45-year history. Its regional level, corresponding to the Regional Health Administrations (ARS), is at imminent risk.

The previous government’s health sector policy, which was based on an alleged reform – the “largest ever” – of the social security system, did everything in its power to make the reorganization irreversible. The extinction of the ARS, announced in April 2022, was formalized by the Administrative Government in one of its last cabinets, at the end of March this year…

Until the end of 2023, a separate regulatory context prevailed between primary and hospital care – with the exception of 8 local health units (ULS). To the 48 hospital entities on the continent (including the above-mentioned ULS), 46 groups of health centers (ACeS) have been added.

Given the universe of 94 SNS entities, the integrative model of ULS comes out of the “hat.” With its dissemination on the continent (“One size fits all”)The process of central supervision began on January 1, with “only” 39 regional entities. In addition to the current aid chaos, a logistical and supply chaos ensued…

The ARS system was already in place before the creation of the ULS. They were far from being functionally redundant. Through the rehabilitation service, central political and administrative control is coordinated with the social welfare service entities providing care, regardless of their respective level of care.

The supposed reform of the social networking system, starting in 2022, is like a runaway train at high speed: it is not recommended to stop it, it is possible to mitigate its destructive potential.

Maintaining the ARS, as a regional structure for the Ministry of Health, is the way forward. This will include enhancing its skills both tactically and operationally – since August 2022 conditional on the RRP mission. Otherwise the collapse of SNS will be inevitable…