An expert is to be appointed to design a new emerging health threats agency, following government approval, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has said.

 

The agency will build on existing assets and infrastructure to focus on infectious diseases, pandemic preparedness and other emerging threats to public health.

 

The announcement follows consideration of the report of the Public Health Reform Expert Advisory Group, which was published recently.

 

A proposal on the scope and functions of the agency will be brought to Government within six months. In addition, public health capacity in the Department of Health will be strengthened through the immediate allocation of additional expertise to the office of the Chief Medical Officer.

 

Minister Donnelly said: "I'm delighted to announce that work has commenced on the establishment of a public health agency, following my consideration of the Public Health Reform Expert Advisory Group report.

 

"Ireland responded very well to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the report confirms this, pointing to lower excess mortality, lower surges in hospitalisations and high vaccination rates when compared with other EU countries.

 

"However, we must be ready for future unknown health threats. This new agency will ensure strengthened preparedness, by consolidating existing expertise across the health service together with additional resources."

 

The Public Health Reform Expert Advisory Group, chaired by the president of Imperial College London, Prof Hugh Brady, was tasked with identifying lessons from the public health response to the Covid-19 pandemic in Ireland. It was also asked to consider international best practice in making recommendations for measures to strengthen health protection and improve future public health pandemic preparedness specifically.

 

It concluded that Ireland performed well in response to Covid-19, highlighting the fact that Ireland’s excess mortality was among the lowest in Europe and globally.