Health · Public Health & Disease · 1 hr ago
Italian groups seek formal follow-up care for premature babies
About 25,000 babies are born prematurely in Italy each year, and they can face higher risks to their health and development than babies born at term.
Babies born before 32 weeks are at greater risk of sensory, movement, learning, language and behavioural difficulties.
Those born between 32 and 36 weeks make up more than 85% of premature births and may also develop later neurobehavioural problems.
Italian neonatal and family groups want the national health service to formally recognise follow-up care after premature babies leave hospital.
They say care should continue until school age, follow consistent pathways across regions and link the services involved.
Formal recognition would treat check-ups and tests as ongoing care, rather than only as specialist outpatient services; the groups are calling for investment, but no decision is given.
About 25,000 premature babies are born in Italy each year, according to the Italian Society of Neonatology.
Three groups are calling for premature babies’ follow-up care to be formally recognised by Italy’s National Health Service.
They want care to continue until school age, with consistent pathways across regions and coordination among services.
The groups say formal recognition would treat post-discharge visits, tests and check-ups as a distinct form of care.
Very premature babies and those born moderately or late preterm can face health and developmental difficulties.
- Who
- The Italian Society of Neonatology, the Italian Society of Neonatal Nursing and Vivere ETS.
- What
- They are calling for formal recognition and investment in follow-up care for premature babies.
- When
- The appeal was reported on November 12, 2026, in connection with World Prematurity Day 2026, which is marked on November 15.
- Where
- Italy.
- Why
- Premature babies can face increased health and developmental risks, and the groups seek continuity of care and more consistent services.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
World Prematurity Day is marked on November 15, a date recognised by the World Health Organization and observed from 2026.
ANSA reported the groups’ call for formal recognition and investment in follow-up care.
- Premature births in Italy
- About 25,000 each year
- Very preterm
- Born before 32 weeks of gestation; 0.8% of births
- Moderate and late preterm
- Born at 32 to 36 weeks; 5.7% of births and more than 85% of premature babies
- World Prematurity Day 2026
- November 15
What people are saying
It is necessary to guarantee continuity of care until school age, uniformity of pathways in all regions and integration among the different services involved in caring for the premature newborn after discharge.
Formal recognition of follow-up for premature babies by the National Health Service would make it possible to consider post-discharge visits, tests and periodic check-ups as a care activity in its own right, and not only to record and bill them as specialist outpatient services.