Minister Carroll MacNeill TD Chairs Informal Meeting of EU Health Ministers at Dublin Castle

On 1 October 2026, Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD chaired the Informal Meeting of EU Health Ministers at Dublin Castle, bringing together health leaders from across Europe to discuss shared healthcare challenges and opportunities.

Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD

The meeting focused on three strategic themes. Firstly, how Europe can unlock its strengths in innovation and life sciences, ensuring that research, scientific excellence and new technologies continue to drive better health outcomes for patients while supporting Europe’s global competitiveness.

Secondly, discussions examined ways to support population health and integrated care, with a focus on prevention, early intervention and delivering more connected, patient-centred healthcare services that meet the needs of an ageing population.

The third key theme centred on strengthening Europe’s medicines system to ensure patients have timely access to innovative medicines, while maintaining sustainable health services and supporting continued investment in research, development and manufacturing. Ministers discussed the importance of creating an environment that encourages innovation while ensuring that new treatments remain accessible and affordable for patients across Europe.

Chairing the discussions, Minister Carroll MacNeill highlighted the value of European cooperation in addressing shared health challenges and building resilient health systems for the future. The meeting underscored a shared commitment among Member States to improve patient outcomes, foster innovation, and ensure that citizens across the EU benefit from high-quality, sustainable healthcare services.