The European Investment Bank today agreed to provide EUR 225 million to support the roll-out of Ireland’s transformational eHealth programme. The new nationwide electronic health and information programme is expected to improve delivery of health services for the entire population of Ireland over the next decade.
The 20 year European Investment Bank loan was signed in Dublin on October 12th by Andrew McDowell, European Investment Bank Vice President and Conor O’Kelly, Chief Executive of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA).
Minister for Health Simon Harris said, “The significant support from the European Investment Bank confirmed today marks a key step in delivering the benefits of eHealth for the people of this country and creating a modern patient-centred health service.”
“This is the first eHealth project ever supported by the European Investment Bank and we are pleased to provide EUR 225 million, a very significant contribution towards the overall cost, to support Ireland’s eHealth programme.” said Andrew McDowell, European Investment Bank Vice President.
Digitalization of the Irish health sector will include introduction of Individual Health Identifier numbers for every patient in the country, establishment of an Electronic Health Record system for acute and community care and development of a National Shared Record system accessible by all health care providers.
The eHealth programme will be implemented by the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and eHealth Ireland. The NTMA is responsible for borrowing on behalf of the Irish Government and this is the ninth EIB loan to the NTMA since 2012.
Original source: EIB
Published on 12 October 2018
