Simon Harris says there is too much 'dissing' of the health service in the media.
The Health Minister has hit out at the negative coverage many parts of the service get.
It comes as a new survey shows 39% of people are optimistic about the future of healthcare in Ireland - with 40% pessimistic.
The Ipsos MRBI poll, commissioned by MSD, also shows that the general public’s 'main healthcare asks' for the future are speed of service and to be treated with respect.
Minister Harris says the findings of the poll reflect the more positive coverage that is needed.
"We all know that the health service doesn't always get favourable media coverage [...] I think it is not acceptable that we only ever talk about the Irish health service in the negative," he argued.
"When did it become OK to decide just to diss all that is good about the Irish health service?"
Speaking about the findings of the poll, Tarik Laher of Ipsos MRBI said: “This study allows the voice of the Irish public, which can be marginalised, to come to the fore in order to help shape the delivery of their healthcare in the future.
"As a nation we recognise that while there is great work being done in the healthcare sector by great people, there are opportunities to enhance services in the future to deliver a more favourable patient experience."