Strategic Healthcare Investment Framework

The Strategic Healthcare Investment Framework (SHIF) is the first time an overarching framework has been set out for infrastructural investment in the public healthcare service. SHIF uses a four option Intervention Hierarchy, it is underpinned by the principle of the Continuum of Care (Sláintecare vision) and contains six Investment Criteria by which all capital investment proposals in the public health sector will be assessed.

SHIF provides a high-level principles-based overarching framework that is an evidence-informed, transparent, and rational basis for assessing capital investment proposals. It addresses challenges including capital projects not being a solution in themselves, but part of the overall response to a service-led need. SHIF aims to ensure the right problem is being addressed through the right solution.

SHIF has been informed by a broad range of supporting analysis, including a comprehensive body of research commissioned from the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES), the results of which are published in a series of Spending Review Papers 2021 and 2022. The concept of, and requirement for, improved productivity is embedded and implicit in the very nature and component parts of SHIF.

SHIF will ensure that proposals developed and progressed are in line with national and sectoral visions and policy objectives and provide optimum infrastructural solutions to support the provision of healthcare.