On February 18, 2025, in Naples, Italy, the Italian National Mirror Group (NMG) was officially launched with a public event organized just before the Partnership General Assembly.
A fundamental tool of the THCS Partnership, the NMG serves as a technical instrument used across all participating countries within the THCS Partnership. Its objective is to provide strategic guidance for the partnership’s activities, ensuring that the specific needs of each national healthcare system are effectively addressed while maximizing the impact and sustainability of the partnership’s results.
The Italian NMG, coordinated by ProMIS - Programma Mattone Internazionale Salute, was the first NMG to be officially launched. It includes a diverse group of experts from Italy's leading health institutions, such as the Ministry of Health, Agenas, the National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità - ISS), the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA), and the National Institute for Health, Migration, and Poverty (INMP), among others.
After a previous meeting held in Rome in January, on February 18, the Italian National Mirror Group (NMG) convened for its official public launch, on the occasion of the Partnership General Assembly, which took place over the following two days.
Opening the meeting, Lisa Leonardini (Technical Coordinator, ProMIS) underlined the crucial role of the NMG in translating Italy's healthcare system’s specific needs into actionable initiatives aligned with European policies. Antonio Maritati (Head of the General Coordination, ProMIS) further emphasized the importance of the NMG in ensuring that Italy's healthcare priorities are integrated into the THCS framework, tailoring European healthcare strategies to local contexts.
Following that, Graziano Lardo (Director General, Directorate of Research and Innovation in Health, Ministry of Health) and Chiara De Waure (University of Perugia) discussed the vital role of translational research in bridging scientific discoveries with real-world healthcare policies. De Waure also presented the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), which guides THCS actions through a continuous cycle of research, innovation, and policy application.
The importance of the legacy of previous projects such as TO-REACH and its importance in putting the research at the service of health innovation emerged from the interventions of Americo Cicchetti (Directorate General of Planning - Ministry of Health) and Giuseppe Gervasi (Ministry of Health).
A major theme of the discussions was the One Health approach, which connects human, animal, and environmental health. Ranieri Poli (Ministry of Health) highlighted how Italy is adopting this integrated model to address pressing global challenges such as climate change, pandemics, and health emergencies. Supported by initiatives like the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan), the One Health framework is shaping Italy’s sustainable healthcare policies.
Health data also emerged as a critical theme during the event. Giovanni Baglio (National Agency for Regional Health Services - AGENAS) emphasized the central role of data in healthcare transformation. By improving data sharing across countries, AGENAS facilitates better decision-making, enabling health systems to adopt best practices and improve service quality.
The active involvement of patients in shaping healthcare services was another key discussion point. Benedetta Armocida (National Institute of Health - ISS) and Maria Teresa Petrangolini (ALTEMS, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart) stressed the significance of patient engagement in healthcare design. Empowering patients and involving them actively in decision-making processes not only improves healthcare outcomes but also ensures that services are better aligned with the needs of the population. They emphasized that patient engagement is essential for the success of health systems, particularly within a transformative initiative like THCS.
The link between reforms and innovation was analyzed by Laura Cavallo (Department of European Affairs, Presidency of the Council of Ministers), who emphasized that reforms create the foundation for innovation, ensuring their long-term sustainability. The integration of European and national funds was highlighted as crucial for maximizing the impact of health policies. Maria Immacolata Cammarota (Department for Digital Transformation) clarified that digital transformation in healthcare is a means to improve efficiency, accessibility, and quality of services. Key aspects include the Electronic Health Record, the Electronic Medical Record, Telemedicine, and the Health Data Ecosystem, all essential for enhancing data integration and interoperability in the sector.
Later, the discussion also addressed the importance of continuous professional education. Carmela Pierri (National Institute for the Promotion of the Health of Migrant Populations and for the Fight against Poverty-Related Diseases - INMP) stressed the need to equip healthcare professionals with digital and transversal skills. In today’s healthcare landscape, integrating new technologies requires well-trained professionals who can apply innovations effectively, ensuring that health systems adapt to the digital era and respond to emerging challenges.
Finally, the concept of innovation ecosystems within THCS was addressed by Teresa Vieri (Tuscany Region), who emphasized the importance of understanding how the various elements of the system interact. She illustrated the Tuscan model, which has invested in organizational structures to support the internationalization of health research, highlighting the need for strategic collaboration to align research projects with regional priorities and maximize impact. Sabrina Nardi (Salutequità) underscored the central role of equity in transformative processes, stressing that quality, accessibility, and timeliness are essential to ensuring equal access to care. She highlighted the importance of patient and stakeholder involvement, as well as the continuous evaluation of innovations, to maintain a health system that is both sustainable and inclusive.
Thanks to the participation of all these stakeholders and the discussions on the above-mentioned themes, the event highlighted the essential role of the Italian National Mirror Group in providing strategic guidance for the partnership’s activities. It ensures that the specific needs of each national healthcare system are effectively addressed while maximizing the impact and sustainability of the partnership’s results.