Duncan Smith
Ceist:2041. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of the provision of HRT patches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44125/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 8 September 2022
Ceisteanna (2041)
Freagraí scríofa
The Health Service Executive (HSE) do not have access to data on the expenditure of patients receiving products privately in community pharmacies or whose expenditure for medicines falls below the threshold of the Drug Payment Scheme. This prevents the HSE from giving a robust estimation of the costs of providing HRT patches free to all who may need them. In 2021, the provision of all HRT products under the statutory schemes cost €5.4m – €3.9m under the General Medical Services (medical card) scheme and €1.5m under the Drug Payment Scheme.
The HSE have estimated that the cost to the state of providing all HRT products free would likely be in the region of €8.2m per annum, at a minimum. The provision of HRT patches would be a subset of this overall cost. This estimation does not take account of any associated loss of prescription charge income, any relevant future demographic changes, or how the introduction of free provision could impact on uptake.