Bill to provide legal basis for digital health records in Ireland
- 24 July 2024
- The Health Information Bill will provide a legal basis to establish a digital health record for Ireland
- It is intended to facilitate sharing of care records in support of integrated care
- The legislation will support Ireland’s obligations under the European Health Data Space Regulation
Stephen Donnelly, minister for health in Ireland, has published legislation which will provide a legal basis for digital health records in the country.
The Health Information Bill 2024, published on 19 July 2024, will provide legal provisions on the sharing of patient data for care and treatment.
It empowers the Health Service Executive (HSE) to draw together health information from across care settings – public, private, and voluntary – for the development and deployment of digital health records for all patients.
Donnelly said that the bill would help achieved the integrated care, envisioned in Sláintecare, HSE’s improvement plan and strategy for reforming Ireland’s health and social care system.
“The Health Information Bill gives patients greater access to their own information so they can make informed decisions about their health and care options.
“It also enables health professionals to have a more complete, holistic view of the patients they are treating,” Donnelly said.
The bill will support Ireland’s obligations under the European Health Data Space (EHDS) Regulation, which enters into force in autumn 2024.
“This legislation supports our national preparations for implementation of the EU Regulation on the EHDS which will come into force in autumn.
“This will transform how we access and use health information for care and treatment, as well as for important secondary-use purposes such as research and innovation.
“By harnessing digital, and unlocking the power of quality data, we are laying the foundations for an innovative, efficient, and truly modern health service, Donnelly said.
The bill is planned to enable the implementation of the ‘Digital for Care: A Digital Health Framework for Ireland 2024 – 2030’ published in June 2024, which included plans to roll out a patient app and national shared care record.
Donnelly expects to progress the bill through Ireland’s national parliament, the Houses of the Oireachtas in the autumn legislative session.
Further legislative measures are planned to give full effect to the policy intent of the approved General Scheme of the Bill and to meet EHDS implementation deadlines which fall in 2026-2030.
