Ipsos Global Health Service Report 2026

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Perceptions of Ireland's healthcare quality are mixed, with just 52% rating the quality of care they receive as good
Since 2018, Ipsos has been tracking perceptions of the quality of healthcare systems, the biggest health issues and the biggest public health problems.
It is a 32-country survey of 22,528 online adults under 75, fielded from 13 July to 7 August 2026, looking at healthcare satisfaction, system strain, major health concerns, GLP-1 awareness, and expectations for the future.
The report paints a picture of healthcare systems worldwide under pressure, with mental health rising as the clearest public concern, access and staffing remaining the most visible system problems, and confidence in future improvement limited in many markets — especially in Europe.  Mental health comes out top with 48% choosing it as the biggest health problem in their country. Mental health has been the top problem in our global survey of health attitudes since 2023 as we exited the Coronavirus pandemic.
Ireland’s healthcare landscape is characterised by growing concerns around both system capacity and population health. In keeping with global findings, mental health is the leading health issue identified by the public with 59% citing it as one of the biggest health problems facing people in Ireland, ahead of not only the global average (48%), but also Irish concerns surrounding cancer (45%), stress (29%), obesity (23%) and drug abuse (22%). At the same time, over half of adults identify access to treatment and long waiting times (52%) and staffing shortages (47%) as the most significant challenges facing the healthcare system.

Perceptions of Ireland’s healthcare quality are mixed, with just 52% rating the quality of care they receive as good, placing Ireland broadly mid-table internationally. However, there is clear recognition of the pressures facing the system, with 74% agreeing that Ireland’s healthcare service is overstretched. Looking ahead, public confidence is cautious, with just 19% expecting the healthcare system to improve in the coming years. Awareness of emerging healthcare developments is also high, with 71% having heard of GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy & Mounjaro.

Overall, the findings point to a public that believes priorities should focus on improving access, capacity and mental health outcomes while navigating increasing demand on healthcare services.

For more details and the full report, please contact Jack Jones, Senior Research Executive: Jack.Jones@ipsos.com

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