The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its 2024 Scorecard update: 25 indicators to compare health systems worldwide and assess how each country is addressing the main health threats related to the environment.
The Global Context
Global Health and Environmental Factors: WHO Priorities
According to WHO, around 25% of the global disease burden is linked to preventable environmental factors. Monitoring the status of environmental health policies reveals significant disparities: the top-performing countries are Norway and Canada, followed by Finland, Spain, and Germany.
Overall, Europe achieves the highest average scores, reflecting stronger environmental and health policies, followed by the Americas and the Western Pacific region.
A core element of this assessment is the focus on 8 key areas identified as priority threats to global health from an environmental perspective.
The 8 Key Areas
- Air pollution: poor air quality due to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and other pollutants.
- Unsafe drinking water: limited access to clean and safe water for domestic and hygiene purposes.
- Inadequate sanitation: lack of sewage systems and sanitation services, posing risks to public health.
- Climate change: direct and indirect impacts of climate change on health (heatwaves, extreme weather events, spread of tropical diseases, etc.).
- Loss of biodiversity: ecosystem degradation and reduced biological diversity, threatening essential ecosystem services (air and water quality, food security).
- Exposure to chemicals and radiation: presence of toxic substances (e.g., pesticides, heavy metals, industrial pollutants) and harmful radiation (e.g., radon in homes).
- Occupational risks: work-related illnesses and injuries, including harmful environmental exposures in the workplace.
- Environmental risks in healthcare facilities: health hazards within and around healthcare settings (e.g., poor hygiene, unmanaged medical waste, unhealthy environments).
As the WHO Director of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health pointed out: “there are no healthy people on a sick planet.” The WHO evaluation urges governments to adopt an integrated approach to public and environmental health policies, as only by addressing all these factors can we significantly reduce preventable diseases and protect both people’s health and the planet.
Italy in the WHO Ranking
18th in Europe: Above Average, But Room for Improvement
With an overall score of 69 out of 100 (above the global average of 51), Italy ranks 18th among European countries. The WHO profile highlights specific areas requiring greater attention.
Critical Issues in Italy
- Reducing air pollution remains one of the most pressing environmental challenges, contributing to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and thousands of premature deaths each year.
- Upgrading water and sewage infrastructure, expanding protected areas, and promoting safer lifestyles and work environments are also key priorities.
Recent investments under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR)—focused on green transition and local healthcare—aim precisely in this direction: leveraging the opportunity to integrate health and sustainability, ensuring that economic and technological progress translates into real, long-term wellbeing for citizens.
What Leading Countries Are Doing
The Strategic Drivers of Advanced Health Systems
What are top-ranking countries doing differently? The analysis shows that nations like Norway, Canada, Finland, Spain, and Germany share several key strategies.
Integrated and Cross-Sectoral Policies
First and foremost, they adopt integrated policies: environmental protection is a cross-cutting pillar, embedded within health, energy, industrial, and urban strategies.
Investments in Essential Infrastructure
Most have achieved universal coverage for essential services: safe water and modern sanitation for the entire population, thanks to advanced infrastructure and constant monitoring.
National Plans on Climate and Biodiversity
They have also implemented climate adaptation and mitigation plans (e.g., emissions reduction), aligned with international agreements—recognizing that protecting the climate today prevents health crises tomorrow.
Another common trait is the commitment to nature conservation, acknowledging the role of biodiversity in ecosystem and human health (cleaner air, fertile soil, reduced zoonotic risk).
Strict Regulation of Chemicals and Radiation
Leading countries enforce strict regulations to limit population exposure to chemicals and radiation: from controlled use of pesticides in agriculture, to decontamination of polluted sites, to public awareness campaigns about radon risks in homes.
Monitoring Systems and the One Health Approach
These nations also excel in data collection and environmental health monitoring: they use advanced systems to constantly track environmental indicators (air, water, soil quality) and their impact on public health. This enables timely evaluation and response when critical thresholds are reached.
Most of these countries have fully embraced the “One Health” approach, acknowledging the interdependence of human, animal, and ecosystem health.
Each domain is interconnected. For instance, improving urban air quality (by reducing traffic and industrial emissions) lowers respiratory diseases and eases pressure on healthcare services; providing safe water and efficient sanitation prevents epidemics and protects community dignity; investing in climate action reduces extreme weather events that stress hospitals and emergency services.
Innovation as a Catalyst for Health Policies
A Roadmap Toward More Effective and Sustainable Systems
Technological and digital innovation plays an increasingly crucial role in supporting more effective and sustainable health systems. Experience shows that to tackle complex, interrelated threats, we need a data-driven healthcare model: collect data, analyze it, and turn it into timely decisions.
In this field, GPI supports healthcare organizations by providing cutting-edge tools for health system governance. A comprehensive ecosystem of software solutions, technologies, and services that cover the entire patient lifecycle and the operational needs of both hospital and territorial healthcare systems.
Thanks to integrated platforms, healthcare organizations can optimize clinical and administrative workflows, increasing efficiency and freeing up resources to reinvest in prevention and quality of care.
Data-Driven Technologies and Artificial Intelligence for Health
Predict, Plan, and Respond with Agility
A key aspect is the use of AI and Data Analytics to inform healthcare policies.
GPI has developed AI-powered healthcare solutions that help predict care demand and identify public health risks early on.
Using predictive algorithms, it is possible to anticipate spikes in emergency room admissions linked to external factors like weather or air pollution.
This means that a healthcare organization equipped with these tools can know in advance if a heatwave or smog episode will increase hospital admissions for respiratory conditions—and plan accordingly by temporarily increasing staff and resources.
This ability to forecast and plan—enabled by Big Data analysis and AI—is essential to mitigate the health impact of environmental threats, avoid system overloads, and provide timely care where it is needed most.
Digital Solutions for Public Health and Prevention
Telemedicine, Automation, and Care Pathway Management
Beyond predictive capabilities, the digital transformation driven by GPI’s solutions extends across multiple areas:
- Telemedicine and remote care platforms that allow healthcare providers to care for patients remotely, reducing travel needs—a critical advantage during adverse environmental conditions or in rural areas;
- Public health and prevention systems—such as those supporting epidemiological follow-up and vaccination campaigns—empowering institutions to monitor population health and respond rapidly;
- Hospital pharmacy automation, enhancing safety and efficiency in care delivery by reducing errors and waste.
The Value of a Sustainable Transformation
GPI as a Strategic Ally for a More Resilient Health System
Technology becomes a strategic enabler of healthcare policies: connecting data, organizations, professionals, and citizens; informing evidence-based decisions; and making the entire system more efficient and proactive.
GPI translates innovation into scalable, real-world solutions, adaptable to diverse healthcare settings and supporting the digital evolution of care systems. Its international expertise strengthens its ability to anticipate healthcare organizations’ needs and guide them through a path of sustainable transformation, in line with the highest global standards.
Leading Change with Vision and the Right Tools
Human and Planetary Health: An Inseparable Bond
The WHO update on health and the environment sends a clear message: human and planetary health are intrinsically linked.
Italy has made progress, but bridging the gap with top-ranking countries requires sustained health and environmental policies that fully harness the power of innovation.
Investing today in clean air, safe water, sustainable cities, and smart health technologies means ensuring a better quality of life and a more resilient health system for tomorrow.
On this journey—through solid expertise, integrated technology, and a forward-thinking vision of healthcare—we can build a future where wellbeing, development, and sustainability are truly inseparable.
