New development: Managing the Covid-19 pandemic—from a hospital-centred model of care to a community co-production approach

Covid-19 is not only a crisis of intensive care but a social and humanitarian crisis. Until mass vaccination is undertaken, control of contagion will rely on responsible behaviour by citizens. Strategies for fighting Covid-19 in different regions of Italy have shown that an area-specific approach, not just hospital-focused, pays off. This article proposes a community co-production approach, in the light of discussions with politicians and key health decision-makers and actors.Preventing the spread of Covid-19 can mainly be achieved by social, not medical, means. Decision-makers should be aware that a strategy of relying only on the acute health system, placing a high burden on community-based public services, without any systematic attempt to co-ordinate or support the expansion of these services, is likely to fail. This article explains the benefits of a community co-production strategy.