Unveiling Italy’s top hospitals of 2025: Surprising leaders and regional disparities revealed

The latest rankings reveal the top hospitals in Italy for 2025, highlighting regional disparities and the need for healthcare reform.

Italy’s healthcare system has long been held in high regard for its universal and free access to medical care. Despite facing challenges such as budget cuts and the emigration of healthcare professionals, the system remains one of Europe’s finest. A recent report by Il Sole 24 Ore has revealed the top hospitals in Italy for 2025, emphasizing the stark regional differences in healthcare quality. The report shows that the majority of top hospitals are located in the North, with only a few in the South, underscoring ongoing disparities in healthcare access and quality. This article explores these findings in detail, shedding light on the factors contributing to regional disparities and the urgent need for healthcare reform.

Regional disparities in healthcare quality

The report from Il Sole 24 Ore identifies 21 “super hospitals” across Italy, with a predominant concentration in the northern regions. Out of these, 17 are located in the North, seven are in the Center, and only two are in the South. This distribution highlights a significant disparity in healthcare quality across the country, despite the constitutional right to health for all citizens. The criteria for this ranking included the complexity of cases handled, the ability to provide specialized care, and the number of out-of-region patients treated. The concentration of top hospitals in the North suggests better access to advanced healthcare services, posing a challenge for the equitable distribution of healthcare resources in Italy.

Top-ranked hospitals in the North

The top three hospitals in Italy are all located in Lombardy, a region renowned for its healthcare excellence. Leading the list is the IRCCS Galeazzi – Sant’Ambrogio in Milan, praised for its ability to provide high-complexity services. Following closely is the Istituto Clinico Humanitas in Rozzano and the IRCCS San Raffaele in Milan. These institutions are recognized for their superior healthcare services, which attract patients from across the country. Other notable hospitals in the North include the Ospedale Sant’Orsola in Bologna and the Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata in Verona, both known for their specialized medical treatments.

Hospitals in the Center and South

In the central regions, Tuscany and Lazio stand out with several highly-ranked hospitals. Tuscany is home to the Ospedale di Pisa, Ospedale di Siena, and Azienda Ospedaliera Careggi in Florence, while Lazio features the Campus Biomedico, the San Camillo Hospital, and the Policlinico Gemelli in Rome. Despite these centers of excellence, the South lags significantly behind, with only two hospitals making the list: Azienda Ospedaliera dei Colli in Naples and Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza in San Giovanni Rotondo, Puglia. This highlights the pressing need to address healthcare inequalities and enhance medical infrastructure in southern Italy.

The call for healthcare reform

The stark regional disparities in healthcare accessibility and quality have prompted discussions on reforming Italy’s National Health System (SSN). Health Minister Orazio Schillaci has emphasized the need for a structural overhaul of the SSN, which has been in place for 47 years. Schillaci has announced plans to introduce two legislative proposals aimed at reorganizing healthcare professions and strengthening both hospital and territorial networks. These reforms aim to modernize the system while maintaining the core principles of universality and free access to healthcare, ultimately ensuring more equitable healthcare distribution across Italy.

As Italy continues to navigate the complexities of its healthcare system, the findings from Il Sole 24 Ore serve as a crucial reminder of the disparities that exist and the urgent need for reform. By addressing these challenges, Italy can work towards a more balanced and efficient healthcare system that serves all its citizens equally.

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