In the European Commission’s Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) 2020, Italy occupies 25th position among the 28 countries of the European Union.
It ranks below the European average in all the indicators that make up the index (connectivity, digital public services, use of internet services, integration of digital technologies), but it is above all on the human capital and on the digital competence and maturity of its citizens that the country highlights its main criticality, ranking last in Europe.
As a consequence of this situation, the country’s competitive capacity is compromised and the digital transformation of its processes, especially those related to health, is seriously lagging behind.
The Covid-19 pandemic made it clear that this delay jeopardises both the health and the economic and social development of the country, and has been an unprecedented catalyst for change, changing the mental attitude of a large part of the population towards digital technologies. However, a new and favourable mindset is only the precondition for a real digital transformation of the most critical sectors of our society, first and foremost health and healthcare.
Although enabled by technology, digital transformation is an organisational and cultural process. Widespread information activities are needed in all sectors of Italian society.
The Conference “Digital Rehabilitation in the Next Normalcy” intends to contribute to the – fundamental and urgent – process of informing and updating citizens on the evolution of Digital Health, Digital Medicine, Digital Therapeutics and Digital Rehabilitation. It also aims to deepen the role that citizens and patients can and should play in this evolution in the new scenario of ‘Next Normality‘, the next post-pandemic everyday life. Finally, it aims to create awareness of Digital Rehabilitation as a new way of health recovery offering data-driven, evidence-based, personalised and accessible interventions.
Discussion with the audience will both clarify aspects covered in the speakers’ presentations and address any topics of interest not covered.