Sinn Féin pushes for all-island health system integration

Sinn Féin is calling for a radical rethink of Ireland’s healthcare, urging integration across the border to tackle soaring waiting lists and workforce shortages. Its new policy paper argues that the north and south’s divided systems are failing to keep pace with rising demand, with the island’s population set to hit eight million by 2050.

Key proposals include joint health planning by both governments, a unified hospital waiting list system, integrated emergency services, and a Rural Health Commission to address regional gaps. While cross-border cooperation has grown since the Good Friday Agreement, Sinn Féin warns that current efforts remain fragmented and inadequate for the scale of the challenge.

For private healthcare leaders, these shifts could reshape patient flows, funding models, and partnership opportunities across Ireland. Strategic alignment with potential cross-border frameworks may soon become a competitive necessity rather than an option.

Read the full article to explore what this all-island integration could mean for your business.