Ireland has a rich history associated with medicine and healthcare, with Trinity College Dublin founded in the 16th century and the Royal College of Surgeons founded in the 18th. Ireland is now a significant player in the clinical researchsector, primarily in academia and services. These centres are based in the large teaching hospitals - St. Vincent's, St. James, Mater and Beaumont. The private healthcare industry has mushroomed in Ireland in the last five years, with a number of large private hospitals opening their doors and a number more due to open in the next couple of years.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) manages the delivery of the entire health service as a single national entity, employing in the region of 100,000 staff. There are 47 acute public hospitals, 19 private and 22 voluntary hospitals in the country. With the ongoing moratorium on recruitment in the HSE, the sector is seeing a consistent attrition of staff numbers, with only critical vacancies being advertised.