Ireland’s fragmented healthcare data infrastructure, comprising nearly 900 different systems, is creating obstacles to effective patient care and research, according to discussions at the inaugural All-Island Forum on Cancer Data at the University of Limerick.
The stark contrast with Germany’s streamlined 30-system approach highlights the challenges facing Irish healthcare providers and researchers in gathering and analyzing patient information effectively.
Cancer experts from across Ireland, Northern Ireland, and international institutions met to explore ways to improve patient outcomes through enhanced data sharing and clinical trial access. The forum emphasized how the current fragmented system structure could be limiting patient care opportunities and research progress.
According to The Irish Examiner, the gathering marks a significant step in addressing Ireland’s healthcare data challenges, with experts seeking solutions to simplify the complex network of systems and improve information sharing across healthcare providers.
This complexity in Ireland’s health data infrastructure raises important questions about efficiency, coordination of care, and the ability to implement comprehensive cancer research and treatment strategies across the island.