PolmoniAMO_INGL

25 PolmoniAMO The creation of a collaborative model requires funding, some of which could be obtained from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) funds. Unfortunately, it is well known that financial resources in the health sector are managed in a silo-like way. Al- though requesting more resources for prevention with a view to reducing the use of clinical resources is rationally justified, it appears difficult to achieve in practice. In addi- tion, our country seems to lack an understanding of social value versus cost, which, when considered for prevention initiatives, should be seen as an investment for the future of society. From the perspective of policy-making, it is becoming an increasing priority to estimate what the implementation of lung screening would entail from an organisational and economic point of view. The healthcare reforms and requests for funding proposed to the PNRR are aimed at strengthening the SSN’s capacity for prevention and treatment for the benefit of all citizens, guaranteeing equal and widespread access to care, and to promote the use of innovative technologies in medicine. In particular, projects are envis- aged for the revamping and modernisation of the technology park and diagnostic and treatment equipment, with the purchase of 3,133 new large pieces of equipment [59,60]. The use of artificial intelligence by radiologists could be a valuable asset, as it would re- duce their workload and at the same time increase the sensitivity of screening [61]. Fi- nally, for lung screening initiatives to be implemented effectively, the historical challenge of the general population’s low uptake of available screening programmes must be over- come. In 2019, in Italy, more than 13 million (13,392,133) people were invited to attend cancer screening appointments, but only 5,825,396 screening tests were carried out [3]. Reducing stigma, raising awareness of the opportunities that screening can offer the entire social and healthcare ecosystem, and creating a collaborative model for early diagnosis are the foundations for developing a new approach to lung cancer management. This paradigm shift will be supported by the increasing involvement of patients and those who perceive themselves to be at increased risk, who will go from mere targets of anti-smoking campaigns to active supporters of their own health. The institutions are hereby called upon to respond to this demand by imple- menting nationwide lung screening initiatives for high-risk individuals.