Silvia Ussai, MD PharmD MIHMEP
International Public Health Manager with a unique skill set obtained through a double degree as Doctor of Pharmacy and Medical Doctor. Specialized in International Healthcare Management from SDA Bocconi(ranked n.1 by Eduniversal).
In 2019, dr. Ussai has been selected for the Program on Negotiation (PON), the executive-level negotiation training offered by the Harvard University.
10+ years experience in local, regional, national and international health policies and pharmaceutical systems.
Scientific Peer-reviewed Articles | Author: Dr. Silvia Ussai
Che cosa possiamo imparare dalla gestione della comunicazione istituzionale durante l’emergenza Covid-19?
La comunicazione durante le emergenze sanitarie riveste un ruolo cruciale per l’efficacia della risposta.
I regolamenti sanitari internazionali, così come il Piano Nazionale di Prevenzione italiano, identificano la comunicazione del rischio tra gli elementi fondamentali per rafforzare i sistemi di rilevamento e risposta alle minacce per la salute pubblica.
La pandemia di Covid-19 ha coinvolto nella comunicazione dell’emergenza una pluralità di attori. In Italia, la gestione della comunicazione istituzionale è stata caratterizzata da messaggi frammentati e disarticolati.
Le lezioni apprese dall’emergenza Covid-19 sono molteplici, tra cui: la necessità di pianificare una comunicazione accurata, coordinata e inclusiva, nonché l’integrazione degli strumenti di comunicazione.
Communication during health emergencies has a crucial role for the effectiveness of the measures implemented. International Health Regulations, as well as the Italian National Prevention Plan, identify risk communication as one of the fundamental capacities to strengthen detection and response systems for threats to public health.
The Covid-19 pandemic involved a number of actors in the emergency communication. In Italy, the management of institutional communication has been characterized by fragmented and dis- jointed messages.
There are multiple lessons learned from the Covid-19 emergency, including: the need of an accurate, coordinated and inclusive communication plan; and the integration of communication tools.
Eduardo Missoni, Silvia Ussai, Benedetta Armocida, in “MECOSAN” 113/2020, pp. 81-88, DOI:10.3280/MESA2020-113011
Access the full article on: https://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=66521
The Italian health system and the COVID-19 challenge | The Lancet, Public Health
Italy is facing a massive burden from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Since Feb 21, 2020, when the first case of COVID-19 was recorded in Italy, the National Healthcare Service, which offers universal access to health care, has faced increasing pressure, with 41 035 total cases of COVID-19 and 3405 deaths as of March 19, 2020. In the most affected regions, the National Healthcare Service is close to collapse—the results of years of fragmentation and decades of finance cuts, privatisation, and deprivation of human and technical resources.There are lessons to be learned from the current COVID-19 pandemic. First, the Italian decentralisation and fragmentation of health services seems to have restricted timely interventions and effectiveness, and stronger national coordination should be in place. Second, health-care systems capacity and financing need to be more flexible to take into account exceptional emergencies. Third, in response to emergencies, solid partnerships between the private and public sector should be institutionalised. Finally, recruitment of human resources must be planned and financed with a long-term vision. Consistent management choices and a strong political commitment are needed to create a more sustainable system for the long run.
Access the full article on #Lancet: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(20)30074-8/fulltext
Challenges in the equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for migrant populations in Europe | The Lancet, Regional Health Europe
Migration and health are universally recognized as a global public health priority. People who migrate, in particular holders of humanitarian protection, asylum seekers and undocumented migrants, may experience inadequate access to high quality and comprehensive health care services. Structures, mechanisms and migrant-conscious policies should be put in place globally and locally, to ensure that migrants, notably those who are undocumented and in transit, are not left behind in the COVID-19 vaccine narratives, planning and implementation. As stated by the Global Agenda 2030, “no one will be left behind”; migrants irrespective of their legal status must be included in public health strategies, to embrace the universal right to health and the Universal Health Coverage target, while ensuring that they are not exposed to financial hardship or legal consequences.
Access the full article on #LANCET: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34124708/
The Traffic Light Approach: Indicators and Algorithms to Identify Covid-19 Epidemic Risk Across Italian Regions
With the beginning of the autumn-winter season, Italy experienced an increase of SARS-CoV-2 cases, requiring the Government to adopt new restrictive measures. The national surveillance system in place defines 21 key process and performance indicators addressing for each Region/Autonomous Province: (i) the monitoring capacity, (ii) the degree of diagnostic capability, investigation and contact tracing, and (iii) the characteristics of the transmission dynamics as well as the resilience of health services. Overall, the traffic light approach shows a collective effort by the Italian Government to define strategies to both contain the spread of COVID-19 and to minimize the economic and social impact of the epidemic. Nonetheless, on what principles color-labeled risk levels are assigned on a regional level, it remains rather unclear or difficult to track.
Access the full article on: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.650243/full
Hazard Prevention, Death and Dignity During COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy
Among all the threats, COVID-19 epidemic in Italy revealed the fragility of human beings under enforced isolation and, for the first time, the painful deprivation of families to accompany their loved ones to the last farewell. Ethics poses new challenges in times of epidemics.
Authors acknowledge that in the absence of any pharmaceutical intervention, the only strategy against COVID-19 was to reduce mixing of susceptible and infectious people through early ascertainment of cases or reduction of contact. Although biologic hazard prevention actions (including death management) have been praised by WHO, the possibility of imposing severe restrictions on death during COVID-19 as adopted by the Italian government raises important questions. The population requires and deserves assurance that the decision to enact these measures affecting vital cultural practices as faith-based services has been informed by the best attainable evidence.
Access the full article on: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2020.00509/full
Areas of expertise:
Pharmaceutical regulatory affairs| Public Health System| Vaccines International Procurement and Supply| Global Health Governance
DR.SILVIA USSAI | EXPERT | PHARMACEUTICAL POLICIES AND HEALTH SYSTEMS 