Discovering Ireland - Guide for Daily Living

Health Medical/Dental Systems Overview

Ireland is a generally healthy place to live with a very low rate of illness and diseases, although expatriates coming from warmer climates may need to adjust to the damp, cold winter weather. At first, they may find they are susceptible to head colds and other respiratory ailments. The Irish Public Healthcare system is governed by the Health Service Executive (HSE). It provides health and social services to EU or Swiss nationals and residents of Ireland. In order to receive publicly funded health services, you do not need to be paying Irish tax or social insurance, but you must be able to prove HSE that you are regular residents. To establish whether you are ordinarily resident, you must be able to demonstrate that you intend to remain in Ireland for a minimum of one year. The HSE may request some of the following: + Proof of property purchase or rental + Evidence of transfer of funds, bank accounts or pensions + A residence permit or visa + A work permit, visa or employment contracts If you do not come under one of these categories, then you can still receive healthcare, but you will be charged the full cost of the service. To find a local Doctor, Hospital or Pharmacy close to your home you can use the Health Service Executive Website. www.hse.ie/eng/services/maps Helpful Hint: Each area has an out of hours Doctor/GP which are often referred to as Med Doc or D Doc or alternatively you can attend accident and emergency centers, if you require urgent or emergency care. Vaccinations There are no compulsory vaccinations for Ireland, but it is recommended to be vaccinated to prevent typical childhood illnesses, such as measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP), shingles, influenza, and polio.

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Discovering Ireland