MEDICAL REHABILITATION IN THE EUROPEAN CONTEXT THE SITUATION IN ITALY

The text analyzes the importance of medical rehabilitation in the European context, with a particular focus in Italy. It highlights that 44,9% of the Italian population, or rather 27 million people need rehabilitation care, mainly due to musculoskeletal problems, sensory deficits, neurological disorders and respiratory diseases. The situation is similar in Romania, with 48% of people who need rehabilitation. The main causes of the increase of the need for rehabilitation include the population ageing, the increase of the chronic diseases, the lack of awareness of benefits of rehabilitation. Other factors are the lack of professionals and the concentration of rehabilitation services in urban centres, excluding remote rural areas. The text discusses also the importance of economic efficiency in rehabilitation, as it reduces hospitalization times and it promotes social and professional reintegration. In spite of remarkable progress in Italy, there is still room for improvement, such as the increase in the availability of rehabilitation beds and the extension of out – of – hospital care, to ensure a more equitable coverage throughout the national territory.