Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2023
1504. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the copper coil is covered under the free contraception programme; if not, the decision-making process that led to it not being included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13857/23]
View answerThe free contraception scheme for women aged 17 -25 was launched on 14th September, 2022, and expanded to include 26 year-olds on January 1st, 2023. The scheme is currently open to women aged 17-26 who are ordinarily resident in Ireland, and will be expanded to those aged 30 and under by September 1st, 2023.
For eligible women, the free contraception scheme provides for:
- The cost of consultations with GPs, family planning clinics and other relevant medical professionals to discuss contraceptive options with eligible patients and to provide prescriptions for these;
- The cost of prescription contraception, dispensed at local pharmacy of choice;
- The cost of fitting and/or removal of various types of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) plus any necessary checks, by medical professionals certified to fit/remove LARCs (e.g. intrauterine devices (IUD), systems (IUS), coils and implants);
- The cost of providing the wide range of contraceptive options on the HSE's Re-Imbursement List, including contraceptive injections, various types of LARCs, the contraceptive patch and ring, and various forms of oral contraceptive pill, including emergency contraception.
It is my understanding that the "Ballerine MIDI Intrauterine Device", a copper coil, was included on the Reimbursement List in January, 2023. The full list of products on the Re-Imbursement List can be accessed on the HSE website.
For further detail regarding the administration of the Reimbursement List, as this is an operational matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
