Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
1105. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if additional funding will be considered to provide HRT for free to all those who require this treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35649/23]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for pricing and reimbursement decisions under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
Some Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) medications are available to medical card holders under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme, subject to payment of the statutory prescription charge.
These same HRT medications are also available under the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS). The DPS ensures that no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
While there are no current plans to make the provision of HRT medications free of charge, the removal of VAT from non-oral forms of HRT since 1 January 2023 has also improved access to HRT for those who need it.
