Shock Covid and Italian Private Healthcare: Some Assessments of Economic and Financial Performance

Aim: to focus on the trend of employment, profitability, and capital structure of a sample of 2,318 Italian private healthcare companies over the period 2013-2022 to test the following hypotheses: (H1) the pandemic increased employment; (H2) the virus increased profitability; (H3) the increase in healthcare demand improved the capital structure; (H4) there are no significant differences between the different macro-regions of the country. Methodology: analysis of financial statements and calculation of descriptive statistics. The ratios analysed are the Roe and the Financial Leverage. The outcomes are represented graphically with broken lines and interpolating curves. The data are subjected to ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer tests. Results: the number of employees increased following the previous trend. ROE increases everywhere in 2021, after a slump in 2020, then returns to average values, with some significant differences between some geographical areas. Leverage worsens, with some differences between macro-regions. Managerial implications: operators in the sector can compare their performance with the average, identifying inefficiencies. Trade associations and public institutions can better establish policies to support and guide private health care competing with public health care. Research limitations: The quantitative nature is based on a few variables. The representative sample only considers valid trends in averages over time but does not consider absolute values and qualitative variables. References to ethical-social aspects fundamental to the right to health and life are missing. Originality: using traditional methods, the interdisciplinary study investigates recent phenomena that are exceptional in their severity in a sector that is relevant to the national and international economy because it relates to the fundamental right of protecting citizens’ health.