Government Approves Major Health Digitalisation Project
Government approves procurement for National Electronic Health Record system to transform Ireland's health service with digital patient records.
Ireland's health service is set for its largest digital transformation as Government approval has been granted to begin procurement for a National Electronic Health Record system that will give every patient in the country a single, secure digital health record.
The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, received Government approval this week for the Health Service Executive to begin the procurement phase for the National Electronic Health Record (EHR), marking what officials describe as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernise Ireland's health infrastructure.
The system will replace the current fragmented, largely paper-based patient records with one integrated digital record accessible across hospitals, GP surgeries, and community services. Clinicians will have timely access to accurate patient information, whilst patients will gain greater access to their own health data.
The approval follows completion of the Preliminary Business Case and independent external assurance processes, confirming compliance with State Infrastructure Guidelines.
Minister Carroll MacNeill said:
"This is a landmark step in delivering a modern, connected health service that puts patients first. The National Electronic Health Record programme will be central to patients receiving safer, faster, and more integrated care, supporting clinicians and improving outcomes for everyone."
"Electronic health records for patients was identified by Sláintecare as a key enabler for the reform and modernisation of the Irish health service and will ensure Ireland meets the highest international standards for patient safety and data security."
Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers TD, said:
"Health digitalisation is a key priority. This programme has the potential to positively transform delivery of health care services for patients and healthcare workers. This is another example of the Government's commitment to digitalisation and to delivering key public infrastructure faster and more cost effectively in the interest of people and communities."
HSE Chief Executive Officer, Bernard Gloster, added:
"The National EHR is central to our vision for a digitally enabled health service. It will transform how care is delivered by giving clinicians the tools they need to provide timely, coordinated care and empowering patients with access to their own health information. This investment represents a seminal change in how our healthcare services will interact with patients long into the future. The benefits from an EHR system are many and impact on access, safety, quality of outcome and patient power. The impact of this decision by the Minister and Government will be visible for many years to come."
Ireland's health service currently faces growing challenges from an ageing population, rising demand, and increasing complexity of care. Without decisive action, officials warn these pressures will escalate to unsustainable levels.
The National EHR will be the largest digital transformation project in the history of the health service, enabling data to follow the patient and supporting integrated care whilst reducing administrative burden on healthcare workers.
The move to vendor shortlisting builds on significant progress under the 'Digital for Care' strategy. The HSE Health App has attracted over 122,000 registered users and more than 200,000 downloads since its launch last year. The Maternal and Newborn Clinical Management System is now live in five major maternity hospitals, meaning 70% of babies born in Ireland have a digital health record.
The National Shared Care Record programme will continue to scale this year, with the next release scheduled for April 2026 delivering new functionality to better connect patient information across services. Virtual wards are already operational in multiple hospitals, bringing hospital-level care into patients' homes.
The HSE will now commence the vendor shortlisting process, with a phased rollout across all Health Regions following completion of the tender process.
The programme will be underpinned by the Health Information Bill, currently progressing through the Oireachtas, which provides the legal framework for sharing health information safely and securely across the health service whilst protecting patient privacy.
