Pringle calls for strong protections in legislation to introduce digital health records

By Thomas Pringle
Updated: 26th September 2024

Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, has welcomed legislation to introduce digital health records to the health care service, but stressed that there must be strong protections to ensure that the information gathered is protected and secure.

Addressing the Dáil on Wednesday, Deputy Pringle said: “Ireland is currently ranked lowest of all OECD countries in ‘digital health readiness’ and we are one of just four member states that does not provide its citizens access to electronic health records through a centralised access service.

“People should have access to their own medical records and the creation of a digital health record will help ensure that they have access to important information that relates to them,” he said.

The deputy was speaking on the Health Information Bill 2024.

Deputy Pringle said that nearly a year ago, 78 GPs from Donegal wrote a letter to the Minister for Health to highlight “their concerns regarding timely access to care for their patients in Letterkenny University Hospital, and I have no doubt that improvements in our digital health and an introduction of a digital health record will improve access to care given that it has the potential to provide accurate, up-to-date information about patients and would significantly reduce the administrative burden on hospitals and other healthcare providers.”

The deputy also raised a number of issues he has with the legislation.

Deputy Pringle said: “Firstly, it is hard to see how we would have the resources and infrastructure to actually deliver on this legislation once enacted. I’m sure it’s going to require significant funding to deliver digital health in Ireland and if that is the case then it is vital that we make sure that public money is spent wisely.

“Unfortunately, this government has a very poor track record of spending sensibly,” he said, raising the €2.2 billion Children’s Hospital, the €336,000 bike shed and the €1.4 million copper-roofed security hut at the Merrion Square entrance to Leinster House, “which was just revealed at today’s Finance Committee.”

Deputy Pringle said: “In regards to the European Health Data Space Regulation, I would like to echo the Irish Council for Civil Liberties’ concerns. The regulation creates the possibility to use health data for secondary purposes, beyond providing health services to individuals, which opens up the opportunity to use health data in the public interest, such as development of public policy. But also as well, perhaps, for sale to private interests.”

He said: “The Minister needs to ensure that this is adequately addressed before this legislation is allowed to progress and I would urge him to engage fully at Committee stage of this bill to ensure that the relevant organisations are given the opportunity to contribute.

“The Minister also must ensure compliance with data protection regulations and ensure that our citizens’ health data is as protected and as secure as possible. This means ensuring that apps aren’t required for people to access their digital health records either. Apps are not a safe or secure way for people to access such private and sensitive information and I would oppose this suggestion completely.”

The deputy said: “I would also have concerns regarding reciprocal arrangements with other jurisdictions. I understand the need to share information to healthcare providers in the North, for example. However, we must be strict on our terms and the purposes for which this information could be used should be extremely limited.”