Hiqa to be given powers to investigate private hospitals

The State’s health watchdog is to be given the power to investigate incidents in private heathcare, under new legislation to be drafted shortly.

Private hospitals, along with other private operators such as cosmetic surgery clinics, will come under the remit of the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) for the first time.

The Government has approved the drafting of the heads of a Bill that will allow Hiqa to set standards, monitor healthcare and investigate incidents in the sector, in addition to its current role in monitoring parts of the public healthcare sector.

Hiqa is also being given oversight of research ethics committees for clinical trials involving medicines or medical devices.

Currently, Hiqa has powers to investigate issues in public hospitals, though it cannot impose sanctions or investigate individual complaints by patients. It has greater powers to maintain standards at residential care homes

In recent years, there has been considerable controversy about specific private healthcare services, for example in relation to the fitting by clinics of faulty breast implants.

Minister for Health Leo Varadkar said the measure was designed to alleviate public concerns about the safety and quality of some services provided in the private sector or independently of it, such as cosmetic surgery procedures.

He described the proposed Bill as a logical step on the way to a full licensing system for public and private hospitals. An internal Civil Service working group has been formed to further this objective.

“There is a very strong case to be made to extend Hiqa’s powers into the private sector, allowing it to set and monitor standards, and to undertake investigations where necessary. My Department will now draft the Heads of a Bill for Cabinet approval to amend the Health Act 2007 and extend Hiqa’s powers,” Mr Varadkar said.

The move towards greater regulation of clinical trials is seen as essential to making Ireland more attractive as a centre for carrying out this work.

Private hospitals account for about one in six beds in the State and care for 400,000 patients a year.