Stephen Donnelly, minister for well being in Eire, has revealed laws which can present a authorized foundation for digital well being data within the nation.
The Well being Info Invoice 2024, revealed on 19 July 2024, will present authorized provisions on the sharing of affected person knowledge for care and therapy.
It empowers the Well being Service Government (HSE) to attract collectively well being data from throughout care settings – public, non-public, and voluntary – for the event and deployment of digital well being data for all sufferers.
Donnelly stated that the invoice would assist achieved the built-in care, envisioned in Sláintecare, HSE’s enchancment plan and technique for reforming Eire’s well being and social care system.
“The Well being Info Invoice provides sufferers higher entry to their very own data to allow them to make knowledgeable choices about their well being and care choices.
“It additionally permits well being professionals to have a extra full, holistic view of the sufferers they’re treating,” Donnelly stated.
The invoice will assist Eire’s obligations below the European Well being Knowledge Area (EHDS) Regulation, which enters into pressure in autumn 2024.
“This laws helps our nationwide preparations for implementation of the EU Regulation on the EHDS which can come into pressure in autumn.
“This can rework how we entry and use well being data for care and therapy, in addition to for essential secondary-use functions resembling analysis and innovation.
“By harnessing digital, and unlocking the ability of high quality knowledge, we’re laying the foundations for an modern, environment friendly, and really fashionable well being service, Donnelly stated.
The invoice is deliberate to allow the implementation of the ‘Digital for Care: A Digital Well being Framework for Eire 2024 – 2030’ revealed in June 2024, which included plans to roll out a affected person app and nationwide shared care document.
Donnelly expects to progress the invoice by Eire’s nationwide parliament, the Homes of the Oireachtas within the autumn legislative session.
Additional legislative measures are deliberate to provide full impact to the coverage intent of the authorised Normal Scheme of the Invoice and to satisfy EHDS implementation deadlines which fall in 2026-2030.
