After last week's controversy, the premier Mario Monti back to health care. This time the Professor chooses the path of demography, arguing that the national health system must be rethought to cope with the increase in the average life of citizens.
"Often aging is perceived as a diminutio, a loss, even a defeat, when instead it is a great victory, the realization of humanity's dream of living longer and better - said the Prime Minister speaking at the end of the European Year of active aging -. And it's not a goal for a few, it's a triumph because you get older being healthier. Our public health has made a decisive contribution to this triumph. But today it is called to rethink itself in this new positive scenario, in view of a remodeling and adaptations of which we must be aware. We need to manage the ongoing demographic process more efficiently."
A few days ago Monti had stated that "our national health system, of which we are proud, may not be guaranteed if new methods of financing are not identified".
The President of the Republic also spoke at today's meeting, Giorgio Napolitano. "The aging process of the population recorded in Western countries - reads the message from the Head of State - leads to an in-depth reflection on possible initiatives to offer the elderly an ever greater degree of autonomy and security in their daily life choices, thus avoiding situations of marginalization and social exclusion and making the most of the wealth of experience and knowledge gained over the course of their lives".
