- Read more: Trends in Medical Workforce Supply and Retention
In 2019, Consultants and Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors account for over 10,000 or 8% of the total workforce in the public health system. Since 2015, the number of serving Consultants has increased by almost 530 to 3,250 in 2019, while the total number of NCHDs also increased by almost 1,000 to 6,860
- Read more: Trends in Smoking Prevalence and Tobacco Consumption
In recent decades Ireland has demonstrated a strong track record in tobacco control and the introduction of policy measures aimed at reducing smoking prevalence and tobacco consumption.
- Read more: Acute Hospital Service: Inputs, Outputs and Waiting Lists
Since 2015, total spending on acute hospital services has risen by €1.2billion or 27%, from €4.4bn to almost €5.6bn in 2019. The total number of staffing in acute hospital services has also increased by almost 8,000 or 14.5%, from over 54,000 in 2015 to 62,000 in 2019.
- Read more: Irish Population Health: life expectancy and mortality
Over the last decade life-expectancy in Ireland has increased by 2 years for women and 3 years for men since 2007: women living to 84 years and men to 80 years in 2017
- Read more: Inequality in Health Status: income, gender and educational attainment
When exploring the relationship between ‘self-perceived health’ and ‘income’ and ‘educational attainment’ clear differences exists in the health status of the population. The way people perceive their health is influenced by a complex set of factors such as environmental, cultural and socio-economic conditions
- Read more: General Medical Services Scheme: key trends in the volume and expenditure of medical cards
The General Medical Service Scheme (GMS) provides Medical Cards (MCs) and General Practitioner Visit Cards (GPVCs) on the basis of an income means-test. Full MC holders receive free access to GP services and pharmaceuticals, while GPVCs entitle access to GP services only.
- Read more: Private Health Insurance in Ireland: Market Penetration and Lifetime Community Rating Reforms
In 2008 the Irish health insurance market was in a strong position with over half of the Irish population covered by private health insurance. However, the sustainability of the market was put into question during the Great Recession due to a significant exodus of the younger population up-taking health insurance
