National Register of Individual Health Identifiers

An Individual Health Identifier or IHI is a number that uniquely and safely identifies each person that has used, is using or may use a health or social care service in Ireland. It will last for your lifetime and will never be re-issued to anyone else. The Health Identifiers Act enacted in July 2014 allows for the creation and operation of a unique health identifier for any person using a health or social care service in Ireland. The Minister for Health has delegated the authority to create and operate the IHI to the Health Service Executive (HSE). The purpose of the IHI is to accurately identify everyone so that health and social care can be delivered to the right person, in the right place and at the right time. The IHI can be used to identify an individual correctly and allow those who are delivering services to them to be assured that they have relevant information for the right person. The ultimate benefit of having an IHI for those who use health and social care services is safer and better quality care. **Purpose:** With the enactment of the Health Identifiers Act in 2014, residents and former residents in Ireland with a Personal Public Services Number (PPSN) were and are given an Individual Health Identifier (IHI) number. It is used to uniquely identify each person engaging with the Health Service Executive and relevant social care agencies. The main benefit of having an IHI is to ensure patient safety by correctly identifying a patient. Your IHI will help to improve the accuracy in associating your medi **Coverage:** National. Data collection began in 2016 and is ongoing.