Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Today, my Social Democrats colleague, Deputy Whitmore, held a briefing on the continuing barrier people who are pregnant are facing in accessing medication for hyperemesis. As the Tánaiste will be aware, this is a condition involving vomiting and nausea and it is very debilitating. Many end up in hospital as a result of dehydration or weight loss. Hyperemesis Ireland has campaigned tirelessly for free access to Cariban, an incredibly expensive medication that can cost up to €3,000 over the course of a pregnancy. Unfortunately, the Government response was to make it available under the drugs payment scheme but only with a prescription from a consultant. That is wholly inadequate and presents an unnecessary barrier for exhausted and extremely sick individuals, who may have to wait weeks for an appointment while suffering. Will the Tánaiste remove this obstacle and allow GP prescriptions to be used so that everyone who needs it can access medication for hyperemesis under the drugs payment scheme without that unnecessary wait and cost?

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