Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 September 2024
410. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if a contraception drug (details supplied) is available on the free contraception scheme for women under 35 years; and if not, whether he will add it to the list to allow those who must take that drug avail of it. [37300/24]
View answerThe free contraception scheme was launched in September 2022, for women and girls ordinarily resident in Ireland, aged 17-25. The scheme was gradually extended to women aged 17-31 inclusive and was further expanded on July 1st, 2024 to include women aged 32-35.
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 a wide range of prescription contraception available on the Re-Imbursement List, dispensed at local pharmacy of choice, including contraceptive injections, implants, IUS and IUDs,
• The contraceptive patch and ring, and various forms of oral contraceptive pill, including emergency contraception.
• 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 Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Medicines and devices provided to GMS (medical) card holders and through the free contraception scheme are listed on the Re - Imbursement List, which can be accessed and searched at the following link: HSE - PCRS Search Reimbursable Items (sspcrs.ie)
It is my understanding that "Lizinna", a contraceptive pill, is not currently included on the Reimbursement List.
HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmaco-Economics (NCPE). The Minister for Health has no role in these decisions. The HSE considers the NCPE assessment, the outputs from commercial engagements, patient interest group submissions, and any other pertinent information in advance of making a reimbursement decision.
It is necessary for manufacturers of medicines and devices to complete the application process to have products included on the Re-Imbursement list - should a well established medication or device of choice not be available on the List, it may be worth contacting the manufacturer to enquire as to whether an application has been made, in addition to contacting the HSE.
For further detail regarding the current contents and administration of the Reimbursement List, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
