Minister announces Government approval to commence procurement for a National Electronic Health Record
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From: Department of Health
- Published on: 5 February 2026
- Last updated on: 5 February 2026
The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD received Government approval this week for the Health Service Executive (HSE) to begin the procurement phase (shortlisting) for the National Electronic Health Record (EHR), marking a significant milestone in the modernisation of Ireland’s health service.
This investment in digital capability represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernise Ireland’s health infrastructure, delivering safer, smarter and more connected care for decades to come.
The Government’s approval follows completion of the Preliminary Business Case and independent external assurance processes, confirming compliance with the State’s Infrastructure Guidelines.
The National EHR will be the largest digital transformation project in the history of the health service delivering one secure, integrated digital health record for every patient in Ireland. This will ensure that clinicians have timely access to accurate information, improving safety, reducing duplication, and enabling care that is better coordinated across hospitals, GPs, and community services. Patients will also benefit from greater access to their own health information, empowering them to manage their care more effectively.
Minister Carroll MacNeill said:
“This is a landmark step in delivering a modern, connected health service that puts patients first. The National Electronic Health Record programme will be central to patients receiving safer, faster, and more integrated care, supporting clinicians and improving outcomes for everyone.
“Electronic health records for patients was identified by Sláintecare as a key enabler for the reform and modernisation of the Irish health service and will ensure Ireland meets the highest international standards for patient safety and data security.”
Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers TD said:
“Health digitalisation is a key priority. This programme has the potential to positively transform delivery of health care services for patients and healthcare workers. This is another example of the Government’s commitment to digitalisation and to delivering key public infrastructure faster and more cost effectively in the interest of people and communities.”
HSE Chief Executive Officer, Bernard Gloster added:
“The National EHR is central to our vision for a digitally enabled health service. It will transform how care is delivered by giving clinicians the tools they need to provide timely, coordinated care and empowering patients with access to their own health information. This investment represents a seminal change in how our healthcare services will interact with patients long into the future. The benefits from an EHR system are many and impact on access, safety, quality of outcome and patient power. The impact of this decision by the Minister and Government will be visible for many years to come.”
Ireland’s health service faces growing challenges: an ageing population, rising demand, and increasing complexity of care. Without decisive action, these pressures will escalate to unsustainable levels. Digital health is recognised internationally as essential to improving outcomes, reducing risk, and ensuring sustainability.
Currently, patient records are fragmented and largely paper-based. Clinicians often lack access to real-time data, and patients cannot easily access their own health information. The National EHR will address these issues by enabling data to follow the patient, supporting integrated care and reducing the administrative burden.
The move to vendor shortlisting builds on significant progress under the ‘Digital for Care’ strategy, including:
- HSE Health App: Over 122,000 people registered and more than 200,000 downloads since its launch last year, giving patients access to appointments and health information.
- Maternal and Newborn Clinical Management System: Now live in five major maternity hospitals, meaning 70% of babies born in Ireland have a digital health record.
- National Shared Care Record: Building on momentum to date, the Shared Care Record programme will continue to scale this year, with the next release scheduled for April 2026 release delivering new functionality. This next phase will better connect patient information across services, supporting more seamless, coordinated and safer care.
- Virtual Wards: Operational in multiple hospitals, bringing hospital-level care into patients’ homes.
The HSE will now commence the vendor shortlisting process for the National EHR, with a phased rollout across all Health Regions following completion of tender process. This investment represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernise Ireland’s health infrastructure, delivering safer, smarter, and more connected care for decades to come.
Notes
The National Electronic Health Record is a flagship initiative and a cornerstone of the Government’s commitment to fully digitise healthcare records and information systems, as set out in the Programme for Government and Sláintecare. This transformative project will deliver one secure, integrated digital health record for every patient, making care safer, faster, and more connected. It will also ensure Ireland meets its obligations under key EU frameworks, including the European Health Data Space, the EU Data Act, and the NIS2 Directive on cybersecurity.
This national programme will be underpinned by the Health Information Bill, a critical piece of legislation that provides the legal framework for sharing health information safely and securely across the health service. The Bill supports major initiatives such as the National Shared Care Record and the future National EHR, enabling integrated care, protecting patient privacy, and building public trust in how health data is used. It also ensures compliance with EU standards and promotes interoperability between systems, paving the way for innovations such as the use of AI in healthcare. Currently progressing through the Oireachtas, the Health Information Bill represents a vital step towards a modern, connected health service.