First national AI healthcare strategy published

Faster diagnosis, improved patient flow and a reduction of up to 40 per cent in clinicians’ paperwork are among the range of benefits promised in Ireland’s first national strategy for the use of artificial intelligence in health and social care.

‘AI for Care’ sets out how AI will improve care across four key areas: clinical care, operations, research & innovation, and public health. It was launched today by Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, at Dublin’s Mater Hospital.

“AI for Care marks an important step toward creating a safer, smarter, and more sustainable healthcare service,” she said.

“It provides a clear and practical roadmap for adopting AI in ways that are safe, transparent, truly enhance patient care, and support clinicians. The strategy focuses on using technology to strengthen, rather than replace the vital human relationships at the core of healthcare.”

The strategy promises a range of benefits for both patients and healthcare workers, including:

• Faster diagnosis: Certified AI solutions that enable radiologists to read images (X-rays, CT scans and MRIs) faster and detect strokes, cancers and fractures earlier.
• Better patient flow: AI‑supported discharge planning for patients, helping reduce delays.
• Less paperwork for clinicians: AI scribe tools cutting documentation time by up to 40 per cent, freeing clinicians to spend more time with patients.
• Earlier detection of disease: AI tools for screening services to boost capacity and reduce turnaround times for people waiting for test results.
• More consistent care nationwide: More accurate processing of evidence and data to enable better planning and reduce variation in care delivery.
• Greater efficiency: AI improving forecasting, reducing waste and automating high‑volume administrative tasks.

The Minister emphasised that AI technologies are intended to support clinicians and enhance clinical judgement, and stressed the importance of robust safeguards, such as mandatory human oversight, compliance with the EU AI Act, and forthcoming national guidance from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to promote the safe and transparent implementation of AI in healthcare.

“We are already seeing improved healthcare outcomes from the use of AI, including expedited stroke and cancer diagnoses, enhanced patient flow, and reduced administrative workload for clinicians,” she added.

“AI offers us a rare opportunity to reshape how care is delivered – making it more timely, more personalised and more equitable. With AI for Care, Ireland is taking a responsible, ambitious, people‑centred approach to this future.”

‘AI for Care’ forms part of the Government’s wider Digital for Care agenda and complements the new National Digital and AI Strategy, positioning Ireland to harness emerging technologies safely and responsibly across all sectors. It also supports Sláintecare’s vision for integrated, person‑centred care.

“We are facing ever increasing demands for healthcare as our population continues to grow,” said HSE chief technology and transformation officer Damien McCallion. “Our use of AI will be pivotal in fostering further innovation and addressing the challenges facing the system.

“AI for Care is a living strategy that will evolve over time and is shaped by the needs of patients, healthcare providers, the public and other key stakeholders. The new strategy sets out the vision for AI across Ireland’s Health Services and the opportunities for AI deployment over the next five years.”

HSE chief clinical information officer Richard Greene added: “Across any AI effort, we will ensure we remain fully person-centric and transparent and trustworthy. We will ensure a human approach is taken to use AI to further enable – not replace – healthcare professionals in their work, and that we lean on lived experience to guide continuous learning.

The HSE will soon publish an AI Implementation Framework to complement AI for Care and ensure consistent rollout of AI across all health regions.