White Welcomes Health Identifiers Bill 2013

eHealth_Strategy_cover[2]I spoke in the Seanad yesterday regarding amendments to the Health Identifiers Bill 2013. The Health Identifiers Bill 2013 is a crucial step in modernising and transforming our health services. In fact, it’s a key component of the Government’s eHealth Strategy. With this legislation, every single patient and health service provider will be given their own unique health identifier/number that will work across the health service, both public and private.

Unique health identifiers will allow the health service to operate more efficiently and effectively. It will ensure that duplication doesn’t occur and that health records are easier to obtain. The reform will also help create a safer health service and will ensure that the right information is associated with the right individual at the point of care.

The Bill has now passed all stages in the Seanad and will be introduced in the Dáil on Thursday February 20th 2014. A copy of the eHealth Strategy for Ireland is available at http://www.dohc.ie/publications/eHealth_Strategy_2013.html