The pandemic is showing that is not possible to think the relation between hospital and territorial healthcare in dichotomous terms, as historically developed in the Italian healthcare system. In fact, health reforms since 1978 have consolidated the differentiation between hospital and territorial care organization. In this framework, the article addresses the reorganization of territorial healthcare in Italy. It is maintained that, with the Covid-19 emergency, it is necessary to contextualize Italian territorial health services in the frame of primary care. In particular, some key points are addressed: the implementation of digital technologies; the role of local communities; the professional issue; the underlying health paradigm.
Keywords: territorial healthcare, health policies, primary care, health and social care integration, Covid-19.