Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 January 2025
1374. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the measures that have been taken, and the current situation in respect of his commitment, to provide free HRT in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46570/24]
View answer1468. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if matters in relation to HRT (details supplied) will be clarified and expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1012/25]
View answer1472. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health the reason no operational or implementation details were agreed in relation to the free HRT products scheme announced in Budget 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1035/25]
View answer1473. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health if secondary legislation is ready to be placed before the Houses of the Oireachtas to facilitate promised free HRT products being made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1036/25]
View answer1474. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to claims by a union (details supplied) that there will be a significant lead-in times required to facilitate IT changes for the delivery of free HRT products; the way this can be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1037/25]
View answer1475. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health to list in full the range of HRT products proposed to be made available free of charge; if this has changed from the range originally announced in October 2024; whether there is scope to increase the range of products in amending legislation given that this has not yet been published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1038/25]
View answer1476. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when free hormone replacement therapy as announced in Budget 2025 will become available; if women who had to pay for products in January 2025 will be reimbursed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1047/25]
View answer1477. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the date that HRT will become available free of charge, as proposed in Budget 2025; if this has now been delayed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1048/25]
View answer1480. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Health the status of the promised provision of free HRT in January 2025; the reason for the delay; when free HRT will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1055/25]
View answer1482. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health for an update on the implementation of the free HRT scheme; the reasons for the delay in its rollout; if he will consider reimbursing women for HRT costs incurred since the start of January 2025 due to the delay in commencement of the scheme. [1060/25]
View answer1486. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the provision of free hormone replacement therapy for women, which was due to be implemented on 1 January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1084/25]
View answer1503. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the expected rollout of the free HRT scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1156/25]
View answer1516. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health for an update on the discussions his Department is undertaking with the HSE and a union (details supplied) in order to implement the Health Insurance (Amendment) and Health (Provision of Menopause Products) Bill 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1209/25]
View answer1568. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health when the free HRT scheme that was to be in place at the beginning of 2025 will be in place. [1518/25]
View answer1588. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health when hormone replacement therapy will become free, given that this was supposed to commence in January, having been provided for in Budget 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1626/25]
View answer1591. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health to outline the engagement he has undertaken with pharmacists and the HSE regarding the commitment to provide from HRT to women from January 2025; when this scheme will become operational; whether women will receive retrospective payment for HRT purchased from 1 January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1631/25]
View answer1601. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health when HRT products will be available for free, as committed to in Budget 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1700/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1374, 1468, 1472, 1473, 1474, 1475, 1476, 1477, 1480, 1482, 1486, 1503, 1516, 1568, 1588, 1591 and 1601 together.
As Minister for Health, menopause has been an important health and well-being issue that I have prioritised, and much work has been done in this area which has been driven by the Women’s Health Taskforce and the Women’s Health Action Plans, launched in 2022 and 2024.
To support women through their menopause journeys, we have progressed various initiatives to enhance holistic and clinician supports available to women. These include:
• A GP Clinical Lead for Women’s Health established 2021, to lead on the improvement of women’s health supports in the community.
• The development of a menopause theory course for GPs and GP trainees via the Irish College of General Practitioners.
• The development in 2022 of a Quick Reference Guide on Menopause for GPs. The guide comprises of evidence-based information on the management of perimenopause and menopause in general practice by GPs and practice nurses.
• The “It’s My Time” campaign was launched in 2022, in partnership with Sport Ireland, aimed at encouraging women over 40 to increase physical activity levels, which can be helpful in managing symptoms of menopause.
• The launch, also in 2022, of a National Menopause Awareness campaign. This was a direct response to the demand from Irish women for greater knowledge and understanding of menopause as well as better access to accurate information and supports so that they can proactively manage their experience. A second phase of the campaign was relaunched in 2023 as part of the Department of Health’s Women’s Health Week.
• The launch of a dedicated webpage to provide trusted information for anyone affected by menopause in Ireland.
• In relation to making Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) more accessible and affordable, Budget 2023 announced the removal of VAT from HRT products. This came into effect from 1st January 2023.
• Six specialist menopause clinics now open for women who have complex experiences of menopause.
• In the Women’s Health Action Plan 2024-2025 Phase 2: An Evolution in Women’s Health, we are committed to expanding the operating hours of these services so more women can receive necessary treatment.
• In 2023, in partnership with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, we launched the Menopause in the Workplace Policy Framework to guide all Civil Service departments and bodies in developing their own Menopause in the Workplace Policies. My Department has subsequently published its own guidance to support Department colleagues in their menopause journey.
The next step in supporting women experiencing menopause is the introduction of an initiative, announced as part of Budget 2025, where the cost of HRT products or medicines will be paid for by the State. This new measure aims to relieve some of the cost burden associated with HRT products. This is supported by a €20m per annum investment.
To enable this initiative, the Health Insurance (Amendment) and Health (Provision of Menopause Products) Act 2024 was signed into law in November 2024. Under this legislation the Irish government will fund the product or medicine cost of HRT products prescribed to women to help manage any stage of menopause. For the purpose of this measure, menopause means the various stages for the treatment of menopause symptoms and includes perimenopause, post menopause, early menopause, premature menopause, and medically induced menopause.
This measure is for women who have been prescribed HRT by their healthcare provider and it applies to HRT products reimbursable by the HSE under the Community Drug Schemes, including the Drugs Payment Scheme and General Medical Services Scheme.
The cost of GP consultation fees and pharmacy dispensing fees are not included in the measure.
The Department of Health continues to engage and work with the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Irish Pharmacy Union on the practical implementation of the Health Insurance (Amendment) and Health (Provision of Menopause Products) Act 2024.
The goal is to introduce this measure as soon as possible and reimbursement support will be available to participating pharmacies from the date that this measure is formally introduced and operational.
