Transforming Ireland’s Healthcare: Key Insights from the Smart Health Summit 2024

The EIT Health Ireland-UK team recently attended the Smart Health Summit 2024 at Croke Park, Dublin, where healthcare leaders, innovators, and industry professionals gathered to discuss the future of Ireland’s healthcare system.

Chaired by Ivan Yates, the summit attracted over 400 participants and featured insightful keynote addresses and panel discussions covering digital health transformation, AI in healthcare, and the evolving management of health data. As a sponsor of the event, EIT Health Ireland-UK hosted an exhibitor booth, engaging with key stakeholders on a range of topics.

Dr. Andrzej Rys, Principal Scientific Advisor and former director at the European Commission, delivered a keynote address on redefining health data management. Speaking about the European Health Data Space (EHDS), Dr. Rys emphasised that it will allow for secure, interoperable data exchange across member states, revolutionising healthcare delivery and research. He also highlighted the necessity for a strong regulatory framework to ensure security and interoperability, which is vital for the future of European healthcare. He stated the importance of strengthening patient rights regarding data access and usage, building trust, and clarifying how data can benefit personalised healthcare.

Ireland’s Digital Health Journey

One of the key discussions at the summit focused on Ireland’s strategy for implementing the EHDS. Panelists included Mark Lawler, Professor of Digital Health and Chair in Translational Cancer Genomics at Queen’s University Belfast; Muiris O’Connor, Assistant Secretary, Department of Health; Patrick Reidy, Collaboration Lead, EIT Health Ireland-UK; and Sinead O’Connor, Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin. The panellists discussed Ireland’s strong support for the EHDS while acknowledging the country’s current lag in digital health transformation. They explored how Ireland can align with EU guidelines, foster research and innovation, and ensure the rollout of digital infrastructure, all while revolutionising healthcare delivery for Irish citizens. The importance of stakeholder engagement in successfully implementing these initiatives was also highlighted.

Muiris O’Connor outlined a plan for a stepwise rollout aimed at delivering value to citizens. This plan includes introducing a national patient app as the first step, followed by the development of a national shared care record that will interconnect data, ultimately leading to comprehensive digitization across the health system. Patrick Reidy discussed EIT Health Ireland-UK’s commitment to supporting innovative healthcare solutions and fostering collaboration between stakeholders to drive progress.

Digital Health Adoption: Lessons from Northern Ireland

The summit also explored successful digital health initiatives in other regions. Dr. Neil Black, Consultant Physician and Chief Clinical Information Officer at the Western Health & Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland, and Stephen Beattie, Assistant Director of Information Technology Services at the Business Services Organisation (BSO) ITS, presented their experiences with the Northern Ireland Electronic Care Record (NIECR), which has improved patient care by providing real-time data access across healthcare providers. Their insights underscored the importance of a centralised system and shared records for achieving better patient outcomes.

Robert Watt, Secretary General of the Department of Health, emphasised the necessity of shifting from traditional hospital care to a more community-oriented approach, focusing on prevention rather than merely treating sickness. He stated that the future of the health system does not hinge on a lack of funding but rather on the need for significant reform. Watt outlined a vision focused on transitioning from hospital-based care to community-oriented services, prioritising prevention over sickness and enhancing performance management. He acknowledged the current poor record on digital transformation and stressed the importance of leadership and a structured approach to implementing electronic health records and shared patient data.

The Smart Health Summit 2024 demonstrated the immense potential of digital health transformation. Key takeaways included the importance of a harmonised regulatory framework, the role of AI in transforming healthcare, and the need for robust infrastructure to ensure secure data sharing.

EIT Health Ireland-UK published ‘Implementing the European Health Data Space in Ireland’ in November 2023. Find out what recommendations are set out to advance data sharing in Ireland.