- Concerning lack of engagement with preventative health checks reported by respondents
- Report from Clonmel Healthcare finds that Irish people place more trust in their healthcare professionals than European counterparts
Thursday 26th June 2025: New research by Clonmel Healthcare reveals that almost one third of Irish people (31%) do not engage in any preventative health checks. The comprehensive study, released today, surveyed attitudes across 22 countries globally.
Of the 31% 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 that they can and should do (28%), perceived cost (21%) and limited access/availability (17%) and concerningly, avoiding check-ups for fear of getting a bad diagnosis (15%). 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. 73% said that they trust their GP on matters related to health (vs 69% globally), 69% trust pharmacists (vs 58%) and 65% trust hospital staff and care workers (vs 61%).
Other key findings from the research include:
- Mental health maintenance: 62% of Irish people feel that they have good mental health, comparing to an average of 64% from global respondents. In terms of factors contributing to mental health challenges, 38% felt that financial worries was the main cause, with 18% saying social isolation/loneliness and 16% selecting work-related stress as contributing factors.
- Prevalence of burnout: A striking 39% of Irish people report experiencing burnout at some point in their lives, significantly higher than the global average of 31%. This trend is compounded by 17% admitting to calling in sick due to stress in the past year.
- Satisfaction with public health system: Just 41% of Irish people are satisfied with the public health system, compared to the average of 58%.
- Unhealthy habits: Almost one-in-four Irish people (24%) smoke or vape on a regular basis, with 45% reporting drinking alcohol at least once a week. 8% said that they consume soft-drugs weekly, with 4% 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.
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