Ireland Guide: Health

One of the most important things when going abroad is to make sure that you are covered in case of accidents or illness. Our health guide provides information on health insurance, hospitals, doctors and pharmacies.

• 

  Introduction

  The Irish health care system

  The quality of health care and health care facilities in Ireland is generally excellent, although facilities are limited in some rural areas.

  more
• 

  Entitlement to public health care

  Categories 1 and 2

  There are two categories of entitlement to public health care in Ireland. Category 1 eligibility (a Medical Card) entitles you to nearly all medical services without charge; Category 2 entitles you to only a limited range of services without charge.

  more
• 

  Private Health Insurance

  Private health care in Ireland

  There are currently three private insurance providers in Ireland: the Voluntary Health Insurance Board (VHI), Quinn Direct and Aviva Health.

  more
• 

  Hospitals & Clinics

  All there is to know about Irish hospitals

  There are public, private and high-tech hospitals in Ireland. Public hospitals are located in all areas.

  more
• 

  Doctors

  Appointments and Visits

  There are excellent family doctors, generally referred to as general practitioners (GPs), in all areas of Ireland.

  more
• 

  Dentists

  Entitlement to treatment and dental insurance

  There are excellent dentists throughout Ireland, most of whom are in private practice as the public health scheme doesn’t extend to dentistry, except in the case of children.

  more
• 

  Medicines & Chemists

  How to get medication in Ireland

  Drugs and medicines are sold at pharmacies (generally referred to as chemists and listed under ‘Chemists – Pharmaceutical’ in the Golden Pages), which sell prescription drugs and medicines, non-prescription medicines, and other products such as cosmetics and toiletries, but don’t usually carry such an extensive range of goods as an American drugstore.

  more
• 

  Emergencies

  What to do in case of an emergency

  In a medical emergency simply dial 999 or 112 and ask for an ‘Ambulance’, which will automatically be despatched to take you to the nearest hospital.

  more