Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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509. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the implementation of the e-health strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29889/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware the Government published its plans for adopting a digital approach for health in its eHealth Strategy for Ireland December 2013. The aims of the strategy are to bring improved population well being, health services efficiencies and economic opportunity through the use of technology enabled solution. Since that time, considerable progress in promoting the eHealth agenda has taken place including increased funding for ICT and the recruitment by the Health Services Executive of a Chief Information Officer for the health services for the first time ever. This was done in order to pursue the implementation of the eHealth strategy. This is a welcome move.

In terms of the legislation a key foundational step in promoting both the eHealth agenda and supporting patient safety is the Health Identifiers Act 2014 which was partly commenced on the 13th of July 2015. Further strengthening of the governance framework surrounding health data and eHealth will be provided in the proposed Health Information Bill, the heads of which are currently being prepared by my Department. The HSE has recently published a Knowledge and Information Strategyto outline further how eHealth will be implemented in the coming years, including plans for electronic systems to support and enhance patient care.

In the eHealth strategy, a range of issues were identified to promote the digital agenda in healthcare including the development of an eHealth ecosystem which has amongst its aims the promotion of the digital health sector in Ireland. The eHealth Ireland ecosystem had its first inaugural meeting in June 2015. In addition, an eHealth Ireland Committee has been formed to advise the HSE on how best to pursue a range of eHealth and ICT developments in the coming years. Further information on these developments is available on a new website created by the HSE. Details of which can be found at www.ehealthireland.ie.

I hope this provides the Deputy with a useful update on the implementation of the eHealth strategy.