Ms Deirdre Healy

Sligo-born and raised, Deirdre Healy obtained her degree from RCSI in 2006, followed by a Public Health Masters degree at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She has worked with the World Health Organization (WHO) since 2015.

Her role is based in the prequalification technical unit, which facilitates access for WHO Member States to affordable diagnostics, vaccines and medicines that are quality assured, safe and appropriate. “In many countries there is no regulatory framework for licensing, so it is vital that products are assessed and evaluated before they are used in these countries,” she said.

She has worked in application evaluation and dossier assessment for in vitro diagnostics, and currently develops WHO guidance for manufacturers applying for prequalification of their in vitro diagnostics.

Deirdre began her career in the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital as a clinical pharmacist and subsequently worked with the NGO Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) where she managed pharmacy services for its HIV/TB programme in Uganda. She set up and managed pharmacy services for refugee camps and field hospitals in Syria and Jordan. She later worked for MSF in Brussels coordinating the procurement and quality assurance of medical devices for MSF, overseeing supply chain strengthening.

RCSI has honoured Deirdre for her inspirational work as a global healthcare leader and change agent. “RCSI encouraged an international mind-set. I remember my lecturers willing us to succeed and how passionate and engaged they were,” she noted.