Homeless individuals in Italy face significant health challenges due to poor access to care. A new law enacted in November 2024 aims to improve their access to general practitioners, addressing health inequities and ensuring their right to health care, while also enabling better health monitoring in future crises.
Individuals who are homeless or facing unstable housing endure considerable hardships in managing both acute and chronic health issues, as poor living conditions often exacerbate these challenges. Their health outcomes are heavily influenced by the environments in which they are born, live, and age, making the monitoring of social determinants of health crucial in addressing inequities.
Key factors such as income, social protection, housing status, social inclusion, and access to health services must be closely observed, particularly for socially vulnerable groups, including the homeless and undocumented migrants.
The Italian National Health Service (NHS), established in 1978, is a universal health system designed to cater to the health needs of all citizens based on the principles of universality, equity, and solidarity. Despite its reputation for efficiency, the NHS has faced significant shortcomings, which were intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Socially vulnerable populations in Italy often struggle to access health services, relying primarily on emergency care due to the requirement of residential addresses for primary care eligibility.
In November 2024, the Italian Government introduced a law to improve access to general practitioners for people experiencing homelessness, linking it to municipal registration instead of a permanent address. This legislation, which has a two-year trial period, aims to ensure healthcare rights for those with housing difficulties and facilitates timely monitoring of their health conditions.
Addressing the barriers preventing homeless individuals from accessing primary care is essential for reducing health disparities and acknowledges their right to healthcare, a right that has been overlooked since the NHS’s founding. This new law represents a significant step forward in promoting health equity for socially vulnerable populations in Italy.
