Knights of St Columbanus with Bishop Donal McKeown. Photos: Geraldine Diver
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22 Oct 2025
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22 Oct 2025
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-Cllr Albert Doherty says increased cross-border cooperation on healthcare is critical for better patient outcomes, both North and South.
An Inishowen County Councillor has called for more cross-border cooperation on healthcare, in order to better serve patients, both in the North and in the Republic.
Cllr Albert Doherty says all-Island thinking on healthcare is hugely to everyone’s benefit.
The Carndonagh Sinn Fein representative tabled a motion on the issue at the July meeting of Donegal County Council.
The motion called on the NI Executive and Irish Government to take the necessary steps
to enhance co-operation between the existing health services, North and South, and
move towards the full integration of service planning and delivery on an island-wide basis.
Cllr Doherty has since welcomed a response from the office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister at Stormont, which outlined how Strand Two of the Good Friday Agreement provides for specific North-South cooperation within the area of health under the auspices of the North-South Ministerial Council.
An Executive spokesperson said Health Ministers from both administrations meet on a regular basis to discuss and advance actions for the mutual benefit of both jurisdictions.
They said further details of the work programme in the area of cooperation on health may be found online at northsouthministerialcouncil.org, along with details of discussions from the most recent meetings.
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Cllr Doherty welcomed confirmation that Health Ministers meet periodically to discuss and advance actions for the mutual benefit of those on both sides of the border.
The Carndonagh County Councillor praised ongoing joint actions on a range of important topics, including accident and emergency planning; major emergencies; cooperation on new medical technology; cancer research; health promotion and child protection.
He further called on both Health Ministers, North and South, to “explore all opportunities to enhance and progress towards the full integration of service planning and delivery on an island-wide basis”.
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