The Prototype Visualisation Platform for the Health System Performance Assessment (HSPA) Framework is operated by the Department of Health and the HSE. The HSPA’s website can be found at hspa.gov.ie. It has been populated with health data in the areas of life expectancy, disease outcomes and health risk factors such as, smoking and obesity, the level of access to health services, affordability, the quality of the care provided, as well as the efficiency of health services.

Internationally, HSPA is becoming an essential assessment platform for many countries. The European Union (EU) is currently assisting other EU member states in developing and adopting their own HSPA structures. In tandem, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is encouraging the setting up and adoption of country-specific HSPAs worldwide.

The Platform is an important component of the overall HSPA Framework project which has been conducted in two phases with the conceptual framework, its components and indicators developed in Phase 1 and implementation of the Framework in the system being the focus in Phase 2.  The HSPA Framework provides for an effective, high-level assessment of the performance of the health system with measurable and quantifiable outcome indicators which can be linked to relevant health policies and strategies.

The HSPA Prototype Visualisation Platform has been populated with reliable and quality data for 185 of the proposed 268 HSPA indicators. It covers not only the traditional metrics of resources and workforce invested within the health sector, but also focuses on; the equity and level of access to health services, affordability, the quality of the care provided, the efficiency of the health services, the information systems in place for better coordination and the level of continuity of health services.