An online database that allows users access health-related information has been established.
The resource, unveiled by the Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH), describes over 150 sources of health-related data in the Republic and Northern Ireland.
Dr Kevin Balanda
IPH associate director Dr Kevin Balanda said: "Users can log onto search on any health topic - be it a particular condition like diabetes or cancer, a lifestyle issue such as obesity or smoking or a broader determinant of health such as education and poverty.
"The user is then presented with a list of all relevant data sources together with details about each of them. If any of the data sources looks like it might be useful, users are told how they can access them," Dr Balanda said.
He believes that making better use of up-to-date information would help drive improvements in the quality and safety of services, and support broader efforts to improve the public's health and reduce health inequalities.
The inventory of information is being disseminated by IPH through a network - called the All-Ireland Electronic Health Library (AIEHL) - of websites.
The AIEHL can be accessed through any of its member sites including www.inispho.org and www.inispho.org , www.health-data.info or www.wellnet-ni.com.