The health and social services sector is a growing border area that seems to contain both the contradictions of the health service and those of social services. Operatively, economically, institutionally, culturally and procedurally, it is witnessing a transformation/evolution/involution of constitutionally guaranteed rights, and so of the meaning of citizenship. In our view, the difficult and complex relation between the health and social sectors, in terms of definition, institutional organisation and responsibility, organisational cultures, resources invested, profit-making and non-profit-making private interests operating, trade union relations and contract systems etc., is one of the keys for interpreting the evolution of welfare in Italy, and perhaps in the whole of Europe.only subscribers can see the full article

Twelve years after the framework law 328/2000 the article brings out both its innovative thrust as regards culture and the planning of social policy, as well as its limitations and the failures – both active and passive – in putting it fully into effect. This legacy has left profound marks on the Italian welfare system and undermines its ability to react to the problems that the present social and economic crisis have made dramatic. Hence the need for profound reforms, whose scope and content are described (infra, next article).only subscribers can see the full article