Quality, Excellence, Delivery: The Irish Medical Organisation AGM 2026

Abstract

The Irish Medical Organisation annual conference was held on April 9-11, 2026. These conferences, that represent all branches of the profession, have been taking place since 1984. This year’s conference was well attended with over 150 delegates. It was an action-packed programme. There were four hot topic sessions, three panel discussions, and three general motions sections. There were presentations by both the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and the HSE CEO Ms. Anne O’Connor. The final event was the address of the incoming IMO president, Prof. Matthew Sadlier.

The Minister said that rather than working harder, the system must work differently. There is the need for seven-day hospital services and consultant rostering at weekends. Reforms are necessary to address the daily pressures of an older population. The health budget for 2026 is €27.4 billion. The State cannot keep spending more without spending smarter. Slaintecare 2025+ was reaffirmed with success measured by falling waiting times and lower costs for families. The lived-in experiences of foreign doctors were acknowledged and the need for greater support...