EUREGHA is excited to introduce another New Member to Our Network 
As part of our commitment to fostering strong regional health collaboration, we are delighted to welcome ASTI-ASL as a new full member of EUREGHA!
In a special welcome interview, we had the pleasure of speaking with Giovanni Gorgoni, Director General of Local Health Authority of Asti; to explore his vision, expertise, and how ASTI-ASL will contribute to our network. You can find the full interview below!
EUREGHA continues to grow, and we look forward to introducing more new members to our expanding community in the coming months. Stay tuned for more updates!
Could you briefly introduce ASL Asti to a European audience maybe unfamiliar with the Italian healthcare system?
ASL Asti is the Local Health Authority for the Province of Asti, in the Piedmont Region of Northern Italy. We are responsible for ensuring all public healthcare services – from prevention to primary care, hospitals, mental health, and community services – to approximately 200,000 residents. We operate within the institutional framework and rules of the regional health system of Piedmont and along Italy’s universal public health system.
The Province of Asti, in Piedmont, has deep Roman and medieval roots and is known for its rural identity and renowned wine culture. Its population is increasingly aging and spread across small hilltop towns, with strong traditions of civic engagement and volunteerism. The area features UNESCO-listed vineyard landscapes and hosts historical events finding origins in the medieval age. Recent years have seen a shift toward sustainable tourism, local innovation, and inclusive community health services.
What are your current strategic priorities as Director General?
Our priorities are a direct consequence of the socio-demographic pattern that we cope with in the region. The province is a kind of preview of what will happen all around in Italy and in Europa due to ageing and gentrification: the percentage of people over 65 is 27.2%, compared to the Italian average of 24% and the European average of 22%. One in three citizens lives in one of the 100 municipalities with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants. The province is one of the least hospital-equipped in Europe, with over 60% of residents living more than 15 minutes from the nearest hospital.
That’s why our strategic priorities are:
Firstly, strengthening community-based care through integrated services and proximity models like “health houses”, “community clinics” and “community hospitals”.
Secondly, digital transformation, particularly in telemedicine, remote monitoring, and data-driven decision-making.
Finally, workforce innovation, by investing in new roles like the Family and Community Nurse and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration along care pathways digitally enabled and shared between our hospital and community facilities.
ASL Asti is known for its community-oriented approach. Can you tell us more about your “Communit-Action” programme?
“Communit-Action” is our flagship initiative for health promotion and social prescribing. It brings together municipalities, civil society, business and health professionals to co-design and deliver ‘social actions’ that improve wellbeing —such as walking groups, memory gyms, adapted physical activity, care-givers engagement and literacy. The aim is to empower citizens, reduce social isolation, foster cognitive stimulation and improve health outcomes beyond traditional clinical care.
ASL Asti has recently joined EUREGHA. What motivated this decision, and what does it mean for your organization?
Joining EUREGHA is a strategic step for ASL Asti. We believe that healthcare challenges are increasingly community-based and require continuous scouting of best and innovative responses. Being part of EUREGHA connects us to a dynamic European network of peers, allowing us to exchange best practices, influence policy, and bring European added value to our local initiatives. It’s an opportunity to both contribute and learn.
What does ASL Asti hope to bring to the EUREGHA network, and what do you hope to gain?
I already knew EUREGHA very well, having been its chair when I worked for another regional member, so it was easy and natural to resume the interrupted dialogue, even though this time the organization is smaller but in very direct contact with citizens and patients.
We aim to bring our practical experience in territorial health reform and our strong community engagement model to the network. At the same time, we’re eager to learn from European partners about effective digital tools, integrated care models, and policy innovations that can inspire and accelerate our local transformation. It’s a win-win relationship.
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