Endometriosis in the North Italian Province of South Tyrol

Abstract

Here, we report regarding the health status and medical support for patients suffering from endometrioisis in South Tyrol, which is a politically autonomous province in the north of Italy containing three different ethnic groups. The health service is administered largely by the autonomous regional government. Because of the establishment of a centre for reproductive medicine and the introduction of laparoscopy as a prime surgery method, the gynaecological department of the hospital in Bruneck developed into a reference centre for diagnosis and surgical treatment for endometriosis. The planned future social, health care and insurance developments on local and national level regarding this illness will be discussed.

Keywords:

• Endometriosis
• epidemiology
• health insurance coverage

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.