Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1934. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the Digital Health and Social Care Strategic Framework 2023-2030; the timeline he is working towards for publication; if an implementation plan will be published alongside the framework; if this framework will replace the current eHealth strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39245/23]
View answerDevelopment of a new Digital Health & Social Care Strategic Framework (2023-2030) is nearing completion. We had intended completing this work in July, but decided it was important to provide some additional time to develop a corresponding implementation plan. I hope to be in a position to publish this new vision for digital health very shortly.
The Digital Health & Social Care Strategic Framework will align with Government’s “Harnessing Digital” and set the roadmap for digital health in Ireland for the next decade.
The HSE are developing the corresponding Implementation Plan that will detail out the specifics and sequencing of the roadmap and confirm the necessary support required to realise this intent. The plan is being developed concurrently with the framework so will be published very soon after the framework.
Many of the key themes identified in the current eHealth strategy are still relevant today and the new framework will reflect that reality. There will be some changes however. For instance, the rapid adoption of smartphones, apps and wider access to faster and more reliable broadband presents new opportunities that were not available in 2013 when the original eHealth strategy was published. It is important that future investments capitalise on the opportunities offered by these developments.
A key goal of the framework, is to put a greater focus on enabling patients by providing them with access to their own health information, and to leverage digital solutions to greater effect in order to modernise the health service, for both patients and staff.
Through our ongoing engagements with digital health leaders in other jurisdictions, there is also a real opportunity to leverage lessons learned internationally. The framework is also informed by our own experience since 2013, in deploying technical solutions including enterprise level EHR deployments in St James hospital, maternity and paediatric settings, other clinical and operations systems, and how best to respond with agility and innovation, as witnessed during the pandemic.
