This paper investigates the effect of broadband internet diffusion on patient mobility in Italy’s decentralized healthcare system.

Using comprehensive provincial-level data from 2013 to 2019 on broadband coverage and hospital-based oncological procedures, we examine how improved internet access affects patients’ decisions to seek treatment outside their region or province of residence.

We find that increased broadband availability significantly reduces patient mobility for cancer care, particularly for complex conditions with lower survival rates, such as pancreatic and lung cancer. The effect is more pronounced among younger patients and those residing in the South of Italy, where perceptions of local care quality are poorer.

By contrast, the impact is weaker among older patients and individuals traveling from Central Italy.

Our findings suggest that enhanced digital connectivity lowers information frictions, enabling patients to better evaluate local healthcare options and thereby avoid some unnecessary cross-regional mobility.

This paper contributes to two strands of the literature: the role of information in healthcare markets and the broader effects of internet infrastructure on health-related decision-making.

Overall, the results underscore the importance of policies for digital inclusion in mitigating regional healthcare disparities and improving patient decision-making.