Department of Health and Children (DOHC)

Background

  • The Health Strategy identified organisational reform, including restructuring of the Department of Health and Children, as a central element in reforming the health services.
  • Both the Brennan and Prospectus reports identified the need to separate operational and policy functions.
  • The Government decision regarding the Health Service Reform Programme provided for reorganising the Department of Health and Children, to help improve policy development and oversight.
  • Following the establishment of the HSE, a key focus is now on restructuring the Department and the devolution of operational functions from the Department to the HSE.

Role of the Department

The establishment of the HSE and the emergence of the HIQA have a significant impact on the role of the Department and the environment in which it operates. In 2005, the Department was restructured to enable it to refocus activities on strategic overview, analysis and evaluation and providing advice to the Government on health policy.

The Department will be responsible for supporting the Minister for Health and Children, who is politically accountable to the Oireachtas for the health service:

  • The Department will support the Minister in setting the objectives for health policy, the overall strategy for achieving them, the means of financing and the way to ensure that the Government's objectives are met.
  • The Department will focus on policy and planning at a strategic level, and seek to ensure that the health of the full population is enhanced, in a 'whole of government' approach to health care.
  • It will also support the Minister in reviewing the HSE's annual Service Plan and multi-annual Corporate Plan, analysing whether they are in accordance with the policies and objectives of the Government, and whether the health service is delivering targeted outcomes and value for money.
  • The Department will provide an effective legislative and regulatory framework which underpins defined financial, managerial and clinical accountability for achieving outcomes throughout the health system.
  • It will also ensure that health issues are reflected across the range of government, economic and social agendas.

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