The Health Minister’s visit to the United States (16–21 March) focused on strengthening transatlantic cooperation and exploring innovative approaches to improving health and social care in Northern Ireland.
Coinciding with St Patrick’s Day engagements, the visit included a series of high-level meetings in Washington DC and Nashville, aimed at building partnerships and sharing best practice.
Commenting on the visit, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said: “Visiting the United States has been extremely valuable and insightful. It provided an opportunity to engage with leaders across health and social care, while also showcasing Northern Ireland on a global stage.
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“Nashville has a strong reputation for innovation in healthcare delivery. It was particularly interesting to see that Northern Ireland is ahead of the curve in some areas, including the shift from analogue to digital through our encompass electronic patient record system.
“I was also surprised to learn that I appear to be the first local Health Minister to visit the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, despite our formal partnership dating back 27 years to the Belfast Good Friday Agreement. That visit underlined the importance of renewing and strengthening long-standing relationships.
“In the current political environment in the USA, it is vital these relationships are viewed as true partnerships, with added value seen clearly as a two-way street to the benefit of the USA as much as ourselves.”
The Minister added: “It was striking to see the respect shown to Professor Mark Lawlor as a well-known friend and equal by America’s leading cancer clinicians and administrators. I identified cancer as a key area of focus early in my time in post and the meeting gave me the opportunity to receive an overview of the innovative and cutting-edge cancer research work going on there. Such fact-finding opportunities very much reflect our commitment to ensuring that Northern Ireland remains at the forefront of healthcare innovation and provides equitable access to high-quality care."
The Minister also visited Washington’s Children’s Hospital, where he met staff and learned about world-leading advances in paediatric surgery, helping to make procedures more precise, less invasive and less painful for children.
In Nashville, the Minister held discussions with representatives from Belmont University and Meharry Medical College, focusing on digital healthcare and the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics in improving patient outcomes.
The Minister said: “AI is already supporting clinicians in Northern Ireland, particularly in diagnostics and imaging, helping to improve speed, accuracy and patient flow. Our approach is to ensure AI is used safely, ethically and in a way that supports - not replaces - clinical judgement.
“What is clear is that robust ethical frameworks are essential. In many ways, AI in healthcare needs its own Hippocratic Oath.
“Meharry Medical College’s longstanding mission to address inequality in healthcare strongly resonates with our own priorities. Tackling the social determinants of health is a shared challenge that transcends borders.”
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While in Nashville, the Minister also met with the Tennessee Department of Health, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, and Interfaith Dental, discussing common challenges including access, diagnosis, treatment and patient flow.
Reflecting on the visit, the Minister added: “One of the key lessons from the pandemic is the importance of global cooperation and information sharing. It was encouraging to meet partners who are keen to build and deepen relationships with Northern Ireland.
“One provider went as far as to say Northern Ireland already has the best integrated health and social care structure he has witnessed globally. The challenge is to make it work more efficiently and effectively and this trip has helped me focus on better ways to achieve that outcome.”
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