Deputy Róisín Shortall awarded Trinity’s Edward Kennedy Health Policy Award

Posted on: 08 September 2023

The Centre for Health Policy and Management hosted the inaugural Edward Kennedy Annual Guest Lecture last night at Trinity College. Deputy Róisín Shortall TD, Social Democrats was presented with the inaugural Edward Kennedy Health Policy Award at the event to acknowledge her integrity, vision and courage in initiating and advancing the cause of Sláintecare to bring universal health care to Ireland. Deputy Shortall is the party spokesperson on Health, Finance, and Public Expenditure and Reform.

The Centre for Health Policy and Management is Ireland’s leading academic centre  or health systems and policy research and education. Part of its strategy is to provide engagement and dialogue between academics, key health system and policy players, civil society and the public. The Centre hosts events and facilitates national and international dialogue on health system and policy matters as well as ongoing publication of their research findings. 

The Centre is part of the Discipline of Public Health and Primary Care in Trinity’s School of Medicine and yesterday welcomed the first cohort of MSc in Health Policy and Management students.

The Edward Kennedy Health Policy Award spotlights the importance of key individuals, organisations or initiatives that have made meaningful contributions to health system and policy reform, driving positive and sustained changes in healthcare delivery and outcomes. The organisers were very excited to announce that Deputy Róisín Shortall, Social Democrats spokesperson on Health; Finance; & Public Expenditure & Reform is the first recipient of the award.

On the award, Professor Steve Thomas, Edward Kennedy Professor of Health Policy and Management at Trinity College said:

“Health Policy reform is a highly contested space. It is therefore really important to honour those who have initiated and sustained change in health care for the greater good. Deputy RóisínShortall has shown integrity, vision and courage in initiating and advancing the cause of Sláintecare to bring universal health care to Ireland. We are delighted to present her with the Edward Kennedy Health Policy Award.”

(L to R): Steve Thomas, Edward Kennedy Professor, Deputy Róisín Shortfall and Dr Sara Burke, Director of the Centre for Health Policy and Management

On receiving her award, Deputy Shortall said:

“I am very pleased to accept this award not only on my own behalf, but on behalf of the many people who contributed to the development of the Sláintecare reform programme, as well as those who are currently working on its implementation.

“The guiding principle that has always informed my work is that healthcare is a human right – not a commodity. Healthcare should be equally accessible and free at the point of access, not available in a hierarchy depending on the depth of one’s pockets. 

“Ireland two-their healthcare system is not the norm. It is an outlier in Europe. As it stands, men, women and children who do not have the means to pay for care are left languishing on waiting lists for years. This has many hugely negative impacts – including children not reaching their full potential; patients’ illnesses deteriorating unnecessarily; as well as premature deaths. 

“As a society we can, and we must, do better. The implementation of the Sláintecare plan has proceeded at a glacial pace – but I am hopeful this will now begin to speed up. It is the job of politicians, particularly those in Government, to ensure that the full ambition of the reform programme is achieved – and our citizens can enjoy the high-quality universal healthcare services they deserve.” 

Esteemed academic on Health Policy and System Design Emeritus Prof Greg Marchildon, University of Toronto was the event's guest speaker and drew on his latest book about Tommy Douglas, the founder of Canada’s universal health system and reflected on its implications for Ireland.

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