Written answer
Patient Files
Ireland is taking a phased approach to digitising health records through the HSE Health App, National Shared Care Record and National EHR Programme. The EHR is entering procurement, with competitive dialogue expected to take 12 months and implementation planned incrementally over 7–10 years; national ePrescribing procurement should conclude within 12 months.
3460. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the digitalisation of Ireland's health records. [56456/26]
Comment on this
Digital for Care: A Digital Health Framework for Ireland 2024–2030 sets out the Government's roadmap for the digital transformation of health and social care services and provides a clear pathway towards the progressive digitisation of healthcare records and information systems in Ireland.
The Government is pursuing a phased approach to the digitalisation of health records through three complementary national programmes: the HSE Health App, the National Shared Care Record (NSCR) and the National Electronic Health Record (EHR) Programme. Together, these initiatives are improving access to health information for patients and healthcare professionals and laying the foundations for a fully digital health service.
The HSE Health App, launched in February 2025, now has more than 209,000 registered users. Since launch, a programme of major releases has significantly expanded the App's functionality, enabling patients to access appointments, waiting list information, GP referrals, vaccination records and other health information through a single digital platform.
The National Shared Care Record is now a live national service and is operational across all six HSE Health Regions. It provides authorised healthcare professionals with secure access to key patient information from hospitals, primary care and community services, supporting safer, more coordinated and efficient care through improved access to information.
In parallel, the National Electronic Health Record Programme will deliver a single integrated digital health record for patients across publicly funded health and social care services. Government approved progression of the programme to procurement in February 2026 and the HSE is currently advancing procurement of the national EHR solution.
The next steps in the National Electronic Health Record (EHR) project, once a shortlist of vendors has been created is to secure approval of the detailed business case as required under Government Infrastructure Guidelines: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-public-expenditure-infrastructure-public-service-reform-and-digitalisation/collections/infrastructure-guidelines/
That will permit the HSE to commence the next stage in the procurement process, which is the competitive dialogue process. Given the scale and complex nature of this programme, we anticipate competitive dialogue could take 12 months from approval at Gate 2. That will be followed by a stage where contractual details are finalised before reverting to Government, as required under gate 3 of the infrastructure guidelines, for a formal decision to process based on actual costs. Investment in the national EHR programme will then extend over a period of 7 to 10 years, with incremental delivery of capabilities over that period, rather than a 'big bang' approach.
The EHR will build on the foundations established through the HSE Health App and National Shared Care Record and represents a transformational step in the digitisation of Ireland's health service.
The Department and HSE are also progressing the National ePrescribing Programme, a key deliverable under Digital for Care. Procurement of the national solution is expected to conclude within 12 months, supporting the future electronic creation, transmission and management of prescriptions across healthcare settings and further reducing reliance on paper-based processes.