Health

Tony O’Brien: Sláintecare struggles show we need a new approach to policymaking

The much-touted healthcare policy has been reduced to a broadly meaningless catchphrase, with absolutely no hope of it being achieved in its ten-year time frame

For over five years now, overall health policy has been reduced to a single slogan – Sláintecare – with painfully little yet to show for it. Picture: Fergal Phillips

At the end of this month, submissions will close on a consultation by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science on the future sourcing of “science advice” for government. The consultation is open to submissions from any interested party.

One of the key questions posed in the consultation is “how can existing sources [of scientific knowledge] be better mobilised?”. In other words, how can we as a country make the best ...