Care of the Italian health care system abroad?
.The protection of public health, in the states of the European Union, is a state responsibility, in fact, each member state independently determines the organization of its health system and the allocation of resources and is responsible for the management of health services. Article 35 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union stipulates that every person has the right to access preventive health care and to benefit from medical treatment according to national legislation in whichever member state he or she is in whether for travel, study, etc. In addition, EU states can promote initiatives to protect and improve the health of EU citizens, in particular, take surveillance, alert measures to respond to priority health threats and plan a joint response: for example, medical countermeasures to address pathogens with high pandemic potential (Covid 19).
Traveling after the pandemic: the global health certificate
.There are currently no restrictions on travel between EU countries for public health reasons, however, member countries have put together a package of safeguards in case the epidemiological situation changes again due to different variants of the Covid 19 virus that may raise concerns of increased transmissibility and pathogenicity. For travel to EU states, it is no longer necessary to submit a certificate of vaccination, recovery, or negative result to the coronavirus.
From July 1, 2023, in fact, WHO has designed and promoted a historic initiative, modeled after the European Union's (EU) Covid digital certification system, to create a Global Digital Health Certification System that could include digitization of the international certificate of vaccination or prophylaxis. This new certification should consist of a pass similar to the one used in Europe during the pandemic that will help facilitate global mobility and protect the population from current and future health threats.
The Global Digital Health Certification System
.The EU Council has issued a "Recommendation" to enable the transition from the Covid digital certification system to the WHO Global Digital Health Certification Network. In this note, while reiterating that membership is voluntary, Member States are urged, if and when they decide to join, to connect to the global network that WHO is setting up, to collaborate on its development and possible expansion to diseases other than Covid or to different services within health. WHO will facilitate this pathway, which will be used for the first time by bringing Covid -19 certificates into it. In this pathway, rules are established and the authenticity of digital signatures is verified in order to prevent fraud. It is important to note that WHO will not have access to personal data, which will remain the sole responsibility of governments. Connected states may issue and approve Covid certificates that are compatible with network requirements especially in the event that a global health emergency is reported. The transition to the global network will be gradual, but critical to ensuring better health for all.
Electronic health records to move safely around the world
.From July 1 to December 31, 2023 and until all member states are connected to the global network, the states themselves are urged to remain connected to the EU gateway (EU's digital certificate checking device) and continue to issue certificates equal to the Covid certificate even after June 30, 2023 (the validity deadline for issuing the Covid certificate). The global digital health certification network, based on principles of transparency, equity and innovation, will facilitate citizens to validate their personal electronic health records and enable them to move safely around the world. It is critical to extend digital solutions in order to ensure more advanced and sustainable healthcare and better health for all globally.
