Healthcare in the Republic of Ireland
Overview of healthcare in Ireland / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Health care in Ireland is delivered through public and private healthcare. The public health care system is governed by the Health Act 2004,[1] which established a new body to be responsible for providing health and personal social services to everyone living in Ireland – the Health Service Executive. The new national health service came into being officially on 1 January 2005; however the new structures are currently in the process of being established as the reform programme continues. In addition to the public-sector, there is also a large private healthcare market.
In 2019 Ireland spent €3,513 per capita on health, close to the European Union average,[2][3] of this spending approximately 79% was government expenditure.[4] In 2017 spending was the seventh highest in the OECD: $5,500 per head.[5]
Overcrowding has been an issue at hospitals in Ireland, with over 118,000 patients having to wait for a bed in 2019.[6]