The Ministry of Health is established with the law of March 13, 1958 with the need to fully implement the provisions of the Constitution which, in art. 32, states:

"The Republic protects health as a fundamental right of the individual and as a collective interest and guarantees free medical care to the indigent. No one can be obliged to a specific medical treatment except by law. The law cannot in any case violate the limits imposed from the respect of the human person ".

The law of 3 August 2001, n. 317 changes the name from the Ministry of Health to the Ministry of Health. The new name reflects the new mission carried out by the ministry in line with the concept expressed by the World Health Organization which defines health:

"A condition no longer of absence of disease but of complete physical, mental and social well-being"

Functions

The ministry, with the aim of protecting the constitutional right to health, exercises the functions due to the State in the following matters:

- protection of human health
- coordination of the national health system
- veterinary health
- health protection in the workplace
- food hygiene and safety