Adnkronos Rome, October 7 (Adnkronos Salute) – Cardiovascular diseases continue to be the leading cause of death and disability in our country. It is no coincidence that the European Commission has placed these diseases at the center of its healthcare policies. The Italian model, founded on universal care and recognized as a virtuous example internationally, is now challenged by the need to ensure economic sustainability.
The challenges stem from the progressive aging of the population and the rising costs of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Italy, once among the countries with the highest life expectancy in the world along with Japan, has in recent years been overtaken by other European nations such as France and Switzerland.
Hospital cardiologists from the National Association of Hospital Cardiologists (ANMCO) met on Thursday at the Ministry of Health for the 2025 ANMCO General Assembly. This meeting will bring together institutions, the scientific community, patient associations, and civil society for a day of work and actionable proposals dedicated to the country's cardiovascular priorities. Discussions will focus on the importance of primary prevention in the cardiovascular field and the Italian Cardiology Department's commitment to combating sudden cardiac death. They will also address the future of research in Italy, including unmet needs and technological innovation, and the universality of cardiovascular care in our country.
According to Massimo Grimaldi, President of ANMCO and Director of Cardiology at the F. Miulli Hospital in Acquaviva delle Fonti (Bari): "The goal, therefore, is not only to extend average lifespan, but above all to improve the quality of life, while safeguarding a balanced budget. In this scenario, scientific societies can serve as a qualified interlocutor for institutional decision-makers, helping to make the healthcare system more effective and efficient. With this spirit, ANMCO is currently engaging with the institutions in the States General, with over 6.500 registered cardiologists and experience gained over 60 years of activity. Thanks also to the dedicated Foundation and the collection and analysis of a vast amount of data by the ANMCO Study Center, we are able to document both the high level of Italian hospital cardiology and provide concrete tools to guide healthcare policy decisions. These results encourage ANMCO to look beyond the medical-scientific sphere, with a growing commitment. both in promoting primary prevention and in spreading early defibrillation throughout the community, for the direct benefit of citizens' health."
"The ANMCO General States," observes Federico Nardi, President-Designate of ANMCO and Director of Cardiology at Santo Spirito Hospital in Casale Monferrato, "were created to transform scientific knowledge and best practices into concrete actions for citizens. Structured prevention, protection from sudden death, and quality clinical research are three strategic axes that require measurable decisions shared with the institutions. Our commitment is to guarantee timely, appropriate, and equitable cardiovascular care everywhere in Italy: this is how we truly protect public health and strengthen the National Health Service."
"The ANMCO General States represent an important opportunity for us cardiologists to discuss matters and engage with institutions with the goal of safeguarding the cardiovascular health of the population. ANMCO, with its extensive network operating in the National Health Service facilities, intensive care units, cardiology departments, and outpatient clinics, with over 700 hospitals, wishes to strengthen its work by building that cultural, scientific, and organizational heritage for the protection of Italian citizens," concludes Fabrizio Oliva, past president of ANMCO and director of Cardiology at Niguarda Hospital in Milan.