The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) ( ga, An Príomh-Oifigeach Míochaine) for
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel. Ireland is the s ...
is the most senior government advisor on
health
Health, according to the World Health Organization, is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity".World Health Organization. (2006)''Constitution of the World Health Organ ...
-related matters. It is a government post as the lead
medical
Medicine is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care practic ...
expert in the
Department of Health
A health department or health ministry is a part of government which focuses on issues related to the general health of the citizenry. Subnational entities, such as states, counties and cities, often also operate a health department of their ow ...
.
The key responsibilities of the CMO include providing expert medical evidence, especially in
public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals". Analyzing the det ...
matters, as well as leading on
patient safety
Patient safety is a discipline that emphasizes safety in health care through the prevention, reduction, reporting and analysis of error and other types of unnecessary harm that often lead to adverse patient events. The frequency and magnitude of ...
issues, emergency planning and other areas.
History
The
Government of Ireland
The Government of Ireland ( ga, Rialtas na hÉireann) is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland.
The Constitution of Ireland vests executive authority in a government which is headed by the , the head of government. The govern ...
appointed
Dr James Deeny as its first Chief Medical Adviser in 1944. He was succeeded by Dr Charlie Lysaght who changed the name of the role to its current title of Chief Medical Officer.
List of office-holders
Chief Medical Adviser
*
Dr James Deeny, 1944–1962
*Dr Charlie Lysaght, 1962–1965
Chief Medical Officer
*Dr Jim Kiely, 1997–2008
*
Dr Tony Holohan, 2008–2022
*
Dr Ronan Glynn , July–October 2020
*
Professor Breda Smyth, 2022–present
Deputy Chief Medical Officer
* Dr James Walsh, ?–1988
*
Dr Tony Holohan, 2001–2008
* Dr Philip Crowley,
2008–2018
*
Dr Ronan Glynn, 2018–2022
See also
*
Chief Medical Officer (United Kingdom)
In the United Kingdom, a Chief Medical Officer (CMO) is the most senior government advisor on matter relating to health. There are four CMOs in the United Kingdom who are appointed to advise their respective governments:
* His Majesty's Governm ...
*
Chief Public Health Officer of Canada
The chief public health officer of Canada (CPHO; french: administratrice en chef de la santé publique; ACSP) is the lead health professional and primary spokesperson on public health related matters for the Government of Canada. The chief public ...
*
Medical Officer for Health
A medical officer of health, also known as a medical health officer, chief health officer, chief public health officer or district medical officer, is the title commonly used for the senior government official of a health department, usually at a ...
References
External links
Department of Health, Ireland
I
Department of Health (Ireland)
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