[Health care reforms in Italy: towards an health system with national rights and local responsibilities].

The aim of the article is to describe the new Italian National Health Service outlined by the third health care reform ("riforma-ter"), the fiscal federalism and the modifications to the title V of the second part of the Constitution. The authors examine the present "performance" of the Italian National Health Service in terms of health status of the population, perceived quality of care and health care expenditure, analyzing the international and national context in which the new reforms were developed. The most significant changes in health care programming, organization and functioning of the system, financing of the National Health Service and medical education are described. The authors conclude outlining research priorities to be addressed.