Centralization and outsourcing of purchasing processes: results and criticalities of Estav in the Tuscany health care system - Considering the opportunities, pointed out by the literature, that the process outsourcing and centralization can offer in the private sector, this paper aims to evaluate the Tuscany experience in the public health system. Through the institution of ESTAVs, the Tuscany health system has introduced a co-operative level among the LHAs to achieve the rationalization of purchasing and technical functions. The paper, after the introduction of the adopted methodology, illustrates the results achieved by ESTAVs in terms of efficiency and effectiveness, with particular referen- ce to the cost savings and the impact on market competition. The results confirm a positive evaluation, even if there is space for improvements.
Keywords: Outsourcing, centralization, purchasing, health system, public services, efficiency.

Cinzia Panero, Carmen Calabrese, Cristina Campanale, Milena Vainieri, Sabina Nuti, Centralization and outsourcing of purchasing processes: results and criticalities of Estav in the Tuscany health care system in "MERCATI E COMPETITIVITÀ" 2/2010, pp. 103-128, DOI:10.3280/MC2010-002006