New research by Clonmel Healthcare reveals that almost one-third of Irish people (31 per cent) do not engage in any preventative health checks. The comprehensive study, released recently, surveyed attitudes across 22 countries globally.
Of the 31 per cent of Irish respondents who admitted they do not attend preventative health check-ups at all, reasons cited include a lack of awareness about what check-ups can and should do (28 per cent), perceived cost (21 per cent), and limited access/availability (17 per cent), and concerningly, avoiding check-ups for fear of getting a bad diagnosis (15 per cent). This indicates a need for clearer public information and accessibility.
The study also found that Irish people place higher trust in their healthcare professionals than global respondents. Seventy-three per cent said that they trust their GP on matters related to health (vs 69 per cent globally), 69 per cent trust pharmacists (vs 58 per cent), and 65 per cent trust hospital staff and care workers (vs 61 per cent).
Other key findings from the research include:
- Mental health maintenance: 62 per cent of Irish people feel that they have good mental health, compared to an average of 64 per cent of global respondents. In terms of factors contributing to mental health challenges, 38 per cent felt that financial worries was the main cause, with 18 per cent citing social isolation/loneliness and 16 per cent selecting work-related stress as contributing factors.
- Prevalence of burnout: A striking 39 per cent of Irish people report experiencing burnout at some point in their lives, significantly higher than the global average of 31 per cent. This trend is compounded by 17 per cent admitting to calling in sick due to stress in the past year.
- Satisfaction with public health system: Just 41 per cent of Irish people are satisfied with the public health system, compared to the average of 58 per cent.
- Unhealthy habits: Almost one-in-four Irish people (24 per cent) smoke or vape on a regular basis, with 45 per cent reporting drinking alcohol at least once a week. Eight per cent said that they consume soft-drugs weekly, with 4 per cent consuming hard-drugs.
Donagh O’Leary, Managing Director of Clonmel Healthcare, commented: “At Clonmel Healthcare, our ethos is deeply rooted in being a trusted partner in patient health. This comprehensive research, surveying attitudes across 22 countries, brings critical insights to the forefront, particularly regarding preventative health in Ireland. “The findings have uncovered a significant disconnect and that while Irish people demonstrate remarkably high trust in their healthcare professionals, nearly one-third are not engaging in preventative health checks. Driven by factors such as lack of awareness, perceived cost, and even fear of diagnosis, there is a clear call to action for the healthcare sector. These findings offer crucial benchmarks against European trends, providing essential information for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and the public to address the challenges and build a more trusted and effective health system for all.”
Clonmel Healthcare is the number one generic supplier of medicines by value and volume in the Irish market and is part of the STADA Group. The STADA Group Health Report 2025 was carried out amongst 27,000 respondents across 22 countries. 1,001 Irish respondents took part in the research.
