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In Italy, the total number of hospitals gradually decreased over time. As a matter of fact, in 2014, there were 1,119 hospitals in the country, whereas in 2021, the number decreased to 1,051 hospitals. This figure includes both public and private institutions. The number of hospital beds declined between 2014 and 2020, to then increase considerably in 2021.  

 Hospitalization rates and causes 

Heart failure is the main cause of hospitalization, followed by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Aosta Valley, Liguria, and the Autonomous Province of Bolzano were the regions with the highest hospitalization rates, whereas Lombardy, Apulia, and Sicily recorded the lowest rates nationwide.

Level of satisfaction for hospital services

As regards the level of satisfaction among patients for the services received during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a remarkable gap between the public and the private sector. For instance, only 37.4 percent of citizens considered private facilities to have reacted promptly to the emergency, against 49 percent of individuals who made the same statement about public hospitals. One must note, however, that a great share of participants in this survey could not assess the reaction of private hospitals.