by Maximiliano Crocamo
Interviews: Riccardo Riccardi, FVG Councilor for Health, Social Policies, and Disability; Antonio Poggiana, Director General ASUGI; Giulio Antonini, Director of the ASUGI Social and Healthcare District
ASUGI, the health authority serving the Trieste and Gorizia area, has launched an open call for co-planning proposals aimed at enhancing its Community Health Houses (Case della Comunità). Applications must be submitted by midnight on June 30.
Designed to bring medical, nursing, and social services together under one roof, the Community Health Houses seek to improve access to care, prevent illness, better manage chronic conditions, and reduce unnecessary visits to emergency departments.
The call focuses on a number of priority areas, including proactive assessment of care needs, support and training for caregivers, Self-Help Groups (Auto Mutuo Aiuto), peer education initiatives, and the development of solidarity networks. The broader objective is to promote wellbeing, combat social isolation, and help residents navigate healthcare and social services more effectively.
To support the initiative, ASUGI has allocated €1 million for the 2025–2026 period and an additional €1 million for 2027–2028.
Participation is open to all Enti del Terzo Settore (ETS) — including voluntary organizations (OdV), social promotion associations (APS), and social enterprises — provided they are registered with the national non-profit registry (RUNTS), operate within ASUGI’s area of competence, and are active in the sectors outlined in the notice.
Riccardo Riccardi, Regional Councillor for Health, Social Policies, and Disability, described the initiative as a strategic step toward long-discussed reforms in patient care. He said the project aims to foster a cultural shift toward a more integrated social and healthcare system, built on the principles of subsidiarity and collaboration with third-sector organizations.
