Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022
1488. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the reason that a national diabetes register has not been registered given the lack of detail that exists on those living with diabetes in Ireland; if he will commit to creating a national diabetes register; if so, when the estimated cost of creating a national diabetes register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29413/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra1831. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the timeline that he is working towards for the recommencement of the Sláintecare project on the development of a national diabetes register; if the previously committed funding will be made available again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30530/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra1943. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of funding previously allocated to the HSE to start ICT work on the national diabetes patient register which was later withdrawn due to the pandemic; if this can be drawn down for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30999/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1488, 1831 and 1943 together.
In September 2019 Sláintecare Integration funding was allocated to the HSE to design and procure a National Diabetes Registry demonstrator product and develop a full specification plan for a National Diabetes Registry. However, the support of public health and ICT was required and, due to COVID-19 pandemic, this work could not be continued and funding was returned.
The development of a national diabetes registry remains a priority. Following substantial increases in investment in eHealth, the national diabetes registry is now being considered as part of a wider review of Ireland’s health information strategy, and will operate as a “virtual” registry.
Government approval was given in April to prepare the General Scheme of a Health Information Bill. It is envisaged that the Bill will include a provision to enable the operation of disease-specific “virtual” registries, including a virtual national diabetes registry, where information on disease diagnoses and treatment from healthcare providers is efficiently collated, combined and quality-checked from administrative records to create a database akin to an active registry for each disease. This will greatly improve the potential to monitor rare-disease prevalence in Ireland.
The General Scheme is currently being prepared for submission to Government in October 2022. Although national registries are envisioned as a function of the National Health Information Centre (NHIC) for secondary data purposes, no costings have as yet been completed.
