Tony Holohan
Tony Holohan | |
|---|---|
| Chief Medical Officer of Ireland | |
| Assumed office 4 October 2020 | |
| Deputy | Ronan Glynn |
| Preceded by | Ronan Glynn (acting) |
| In office 21 May 2008 – 2 July 2020 | |
| Deputy | Ronan Glynn |
| Preceded by | Jim Kiely |
| Succeeded by | Ronan Glynn (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Gerard Anthony Holohan Limerick, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | CBS Sexton Street |
| Alma mater | |
William Gerard Anthony Holohan is an Irish public health physician who has served as Chief Medical Officer of Ireland since May 2008.[1][2][3][4][5]
On 2 July 2020, he temporarily stepped back from his position as Chief Medical Officer due to family issues. Deputy Chief Medical Officer Ronan Glynn was temporarily appointed to the office until his return in October 2020.[6][7]
The CMO chairs the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), a group responsible for the state's responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland from the beginning of the pandemic until temporary hiatus in early July 2020.[8][9][7]
Background[edit]
Holohan was born in Limerick. His primary education was at Monaleen N.S.; his secondary education took place at the Christian Brothers school at Sexton Street, Limerick.[10]
Medical career[edit]
Holohan graduated from medical school at University College Dublin in 1991.[1] After training in general practice, he also trained in public health medicine, graduating with a Masters in Public Health (MPH) in 1996. Holohan was appointed Deputy Chief Medical Officer in 2001, followed by promotion to Chief Medical Officer in December 2008.[11][12][13][14]
Holohan holds a diploma in healthcare management from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He is a member of the Irish College of General Practitioners (MICGP) and is a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (FFPHMI).[15]
Holohan played a prominent role in the CervicalCheck cancer scandal. Holohan stated that the decision not to escalate the matter to the Minister for Health was a fair and reasonable decision, telling the panel:
- "It was reasonable because the information provided in the briefing notes provided by the HSE to the Department was evidence of ongoing improvement to how the service was being delivered, rather than the identification of a problem which, of its nature, required escalation to ministerial level." [16]
Holohan also said he believed the characterisation of the Department of Health, of himself and his colleagues in the media in recent days had been unfair, telling the committee:
- "The Department is far from an organisation that is unwilling to seek proper disclosure to patients, that is unwilling to directly performance manage the HSE, and to escalate appropriately to ministers."
- "Any fair assessment of our work record will show that this is simply untrue." [16]
The day after Vicky Phelan publicly criticised CervicalCheck outside the High Court, Holohan advised in an email – dated 26 April 2018 – against any external review of the cancer screening programme, instead asking the Minister for Health, Simon Harris to go for a report "prepared by Holohan himself".
Holohan told Harris the "appropriate way forward" was to "state that you have asked me to provide a report on the matter, including whether further actions or steps are required... I strongly advise that you do not commit to a review of CervicalCheck arising from the recent court case", that to announce a review "could unnecessarily undermine public confidence in CervicalCheck" when, wrote Holohan, there was "no evidence at this stage that there are quality or patient safety concerns with the CervicalCheck programme". Harris ignored Holohan's advice.[17]
The HSE confirmed that, as of May 16th 2018, 18 women out of a total of 209 women affected by the Cervical Check programme have subsequently died. This number has increased since this was reported.[16]
On 29 February 2020, Holohan announced the first case of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019, and that the resulting pandemic had spread to Ireland.[18] He gave a televised interview to The Late Late Show on 17 April 2020.[19]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Medical Council (Ireland) Register".
- ^ "Gov.ie - Tony Holohan".
- ^ "Chief Medical Officer: People returning from areas affected by coronavirus should 'self-isolate' if displaying symptoms". TheJournal.ie.
- ^ "WHO national counterpart and national technical focal points". 13 March 2020.
- ^ Dr. Tony Holohan - HRB30.ie
- ^ Daly, Adam (2 July 2020). "Dr Tony Holohan to step away from work as Chief Medical Officer for family reasons". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ a b Leahy, Pat (1 October 2020). "Dr Tony Holohan expected to return to his post next week". The Irish Times. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ Ryan, Philip (5 April 2020). "Inside the all-powerful coronavirus taskforce - Ireland's decision-makers in a crisis: Our new rulers during this health crisis are a crack team of doctors, scientists and senior civil servants". Sunday Independent. p. 12.
- ^ "Holohan 'taking time out' from role over wife's illness". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ "New Chief Medical Officer appointed". 8 December 2008.
- ^ "Dr Tony Holohan".
- ^ "New Chief Medical Officer appointed". 8 December 2008.
- ^ "New chief with big challenges".
- ^ "Dr Colm Henry and Dr Tony Holohan".
- ^ "New Chief Medical Officer appointed". 8 December 2008.
- ^ a b c Brophy, Daragh. "Cervical Check scandal: Acting HSE boss says sorry for 'confusion and alarm'". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ "Top medic advised against Cervical Check review". Irish Examiner. 12 March 2019.
- ^ "First case of coronavirus in Republic of Ireland". BBC News. 29 February 2020. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
- ^ "'Important to continue current measures until 5 May', says Dr Holohan". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 18 April 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jim Kiely |
Chief Medical Officer for Ireland 2008– |
Incumbent |
