PALERMO (ITALPRESS) – There are approximately 140,000 Italians living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), of which over 11,000 in Sicily, with approximately 290 new diagnoses registered at regional level every year. Sicily is, after Lazio, Campania and Lombardy, the fourth Italian region in terms of the number of people facing this chronic neurological disease, which affects young people and adults and two-thirds women, with complex health needs. The Sicilian Region was one of the first Italian realities to equip itself with a Diagnostic Therapeutic Assistance Path (PDTA) specific for MS and to establish a regional Observatory, highlighting the need to place priority attention on the social welfare management of this high-impact disease and complexity. Hence today’s announcement of the signing of the collaboration agreement between the Sicilian Region and Novartis Italia, lasting two years, possibly renewable, for the development of innovative models for the care and assistance of people with multiple sclerosis. The agreement aims to improve both the interconnection between the various regional centers for the treatment of MS and the home and local management models, to enhance the continuity of care between hospital and territory and encourage greater timeliness in treatments and ‘assistance.
“The partnership announced today represents an innovative model of collaboration, which arises from the broad commitment of the Sicilian Region to improve the management of a complex disease, with a strong impact on the regional health and social fabric – declares Salvatore Iacolino, Director of the Planning Department Strategy of the Health Department of the Sicilian Region -. MS is a priority in the regional health agenda and we hope that the objectives defined in the agreement will allow us to further improve responses to the real needs of people with MS in Sicily”.
“Due to its highly complex characteristics, multiple sclerosis can represent a potential test bed for the management of other chronic diseases as well – states Valentino Confalone, Country President of Novartis Italia -. As a company we are aware that today a collective commitment to the pathology is necessary, involving doctors, patients, institutions and industry, to improve the entire diagnostic-therapeutic path. The collaboration announced today was born from this perspective: an innovative model in which Novartis is committed alongside the Sicilian MS community to reimagine the healthcare of tomorrow together.”
Novartis, a world leading company in the research and development of innovative therapies, through the PRIMA project has already collaborated in the establishment of a regional multi-stakeholder table which led to the identification of healthcare and process needs, as well as some of the possible solutions to be implemented to improve the path of patients with MS and to promote regional territorial equity. With the signing of this agreement, the company continues its commitment to multiple sclerosis, alongside the Sicilian Region.
– Photo Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
