Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 January 2025
1375. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health following the Budget 2025 announcement of free HRT, to confirm whether the patient will have to pay a dispensing fee to the pharmacy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46571/24]
View answer1483. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in commencing the free HRT scheme; when the scheme will commence for qualifying patients; if he will arrange for women who should have benefited from the scheme since 1 January 2025 to be reimbursed any expenses accrued up to the formal commencement of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1064/25]
View answer1493. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the rollout of the proposed free HRT scheme as outlined in Budget 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1114/25]
View answer1510. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the reason that the publicly funded HRT scheme will be delayed; the new projected date for the rollout of the scheme; if persons will be reimbursed for HRT paid for between January 2025 and the implementation date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1176/25]
View answer1511. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he will advise when HRT medication will be available without charge, as per Government commitments and announcements; if this will be backdated for medication dispensed and paid for in 2025; how a retrospective claim for recoupment of this expense will be done; if there will be an advertisement campaign advising of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1181/25]
View answer1552. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health to give a clear outline of when the free HRT scheme will be implemented, as promised in Budget 2025; to commit to reimbursing patients who have had to purchase the medication after 1 January 2025 when the scheme was supposed to be introduced; to ensure that any GP fees incurred during the prescribing process are waived to ensure ‘free’ HRT as promised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1432/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1375, 1483, 1493, 1510, 1511 and 1522 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, 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 publishes 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.
