Susan Treacey
CEO, HealthTech Ireland
The ‘healthcare transformation era’ involves addressing chronic disease management, workforce shortages, ageing populations and digitisation to enhance productivity and maintain regulations that protect patients while fostering innovation.
Digitisation presents tremendous opportunities. Globally, there is a shift from needs-driven treatment to preventative, planned and patient-centred healthcare.
Healthcare milestones for Ireland
Despite being behind, progress is being made both in government and the HSE. Milestones such as the AI Act, the European Health Data Space and the Health Information Bill will ensure safety and support the capability to deliver solutions. The Digital for Care roadmap and HSE Implementation Plan will provide strategic direction.
With the HSE’s move to six new regions, there is a push for a more integrated, patient-centred approach, improving access, integration and accountability. Recently, the Irish Government announced a record €25.8 billion allocation to the health sector, marking a €2.94 billion increase compared to 2024.
The Digital for Care roadmap
and HSE Implementation Plan
will provide strategic direction.
Advancing digital healthcare together
This is a time of super convergence in healthcare, with rapid integration of advanced technologies such as AI, genomics, robotics and precision medicine. Technologies are converging in new and unexpected ways, leading to significant advancements and benefits to human health and healthcare delivery.
Trusted collaboration is essential to harness the full potential of this super convergence. It requires meaningful collaboration between key stakeholders in government, the healthcare system, industry, academia and patients. It provides the necessary elements for success, including multidisciplinary expertise, resource sharing and an innovation ecosystem where stakeholders thrive together.
Frameworks and agreements enable meaningful action
Patient-centred care is a priority, ensuring needs are met and aligning policies and regulations supports the safe and effective use of new technologies while enabling innovation. The inclusion of a Life Science Strategy in the new programme for government is welcomed as a critical enabler of essential connectivity and alignment across the ecosystem.
HealthTech Ireland, along with its members and the HSE, is driving progress through milestones such as the first public/private centre of excellence for sustainable supply chains. The work began with senior leaders in health and on the recently launched Memorandum of Understanding. By embracing opportunities and addressing challenges, Ireland’s healthcare system is poised to thrive in this ‘era of transformation.’
