That it is important to work in a healthcare network has been an established concept for a number of years, even though it is not an objective or a process that can be taken for granted or achieved with ease.
Anyone who deals with improving social, physical and mental wellbeing, i.e. a person's overall wellbeing, has the shared objectives of meeting the needs of citizens and offering health services to individuals and to the community.
Within this framework is the Guadagnare Salute programme, which is promoted by the Ministry of Health and has been joined by Regione Veneto; it was launched in order to spread and facilitate a change in behaviour that would benefit the population's health by acting on the main health risk factors at the root of chronic and degenerative illnesses: smoking, alcohol, poor diet and physical inactivity.
Regione Veneto is also involved in additional healthy lifestyle education schemes including one called "Primary heart disease prevention in healthy people", given that heart disease is the main cause of death in the region. The programme involves building a network that encompasses health-prevention departments, GPs, specialists, hospitals, patient associations, as well as local authorities and universities.
Currently this programme is underway in three of Veneto's Local Health Authorities (Aziende ULSS); initial results are extremely promising as it has revealed a major share of people with high blood pressure and high blood sugar who were not aware of their problem; even if they are unable to change their lifestyle, they will be able to be treated effectively with medication.
One good example of an integrated network is the GenitoriPiù programme, a social communication campaign devised by Azienda ULSS 20 and then implemented by Regione Veneto between 2006 and 2007; it was then extended to a national level by the Ministry of Health. It promotes seven measures with scientifically proven benefits that help fight the main causes of infant mortality and illness. These include the correct use of folic acid by expectant mothers, encouraging mothers to stop smoking, particularly if they are pregnant, and the taking of precautions to ensure that children travel safely in cars.
Current legislation governing workplace health and safety envisages the activation of a network of institutional actors in a Regional Coordination Committee, a body that uses national and European policy to plan prevention and inspections and coordinate the various authorities involved.
(Chapter 13 in figures)