Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Thank you. In section 1, amendment No. 1 is a consequential amendment to the preliminary and general part of the Bill, required as a result of amendments inserting the hormone replacement therapy provisions.

Amendment No. 2 inserts a new Part 2 into the Bill, to provide for free hormone replacement therapy products related to menopause for certain women. It also provides a drafting clarification relating to how the Health Act 1970 is referenced within the Bill.

Amendment No. 3 provides that the new section being introduced - section 67F of the Health Act 1970, which gives effect to the provision of free hormone replacement therapy products related to menopause - is included for reference within section 47A of the Health Act 1970.

Amendment No. 4 inserts the new section 67F into the Health Act 1970. It contains the main provisions for the free menopause products. Within this proposed new section, there are six subsections. Subsection (1) provides that the HSE will make menopause products on the HSE reimbursement list available without charge to women ordinarily resident in the State who have been prescribed such products by a relevant healthcare provider, that is, a registered medical practitioner, a registered nurse or a registered midwife. Subsection (2) provides that a woman shall receive the menopause product from a pharmacy which has entered into or agreed to enter into an arrangement with the HSE for the dispensing of menopause products to women. Subsection (3) provides that, separate from the provisions outlined within this legislation, women with full eligibility, that is, medical card holders, will continue to receive free menopause products under section 59(1) of the Health Act 1970. Section 59(1) currently provides for the provision of free drugs, medicines, medical and surgical appliances to medical card holders. Subsection (4) provides that the Minister may, following consultation with the HSE, by regulation prescribe the form and manner in which the HSE may reimburse pharmacy providers for the supply of the menopause products, the form and manner in which the pharmacy providers may claim for the reimbursement and the forms that would be used to make the claims and reimbursements. Subsection (5) provides that every regulation made under this section must be laid before the Oireachtas. Subsection (6) provides for the definitions of certain terms in the amendments.

Amendment No. 5 contains a number of consequential amendments to the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. These are necessary to provide the legislative framework for the HSE’s conditional supply and reimbursement of listed menopause products, meaning hormone replacement therapy drugs, medicines and surgical and medical appliances used to alleviate the symptoms of menopause and which are on the reimbursement list administered by the HSE.

Amendment No. 6 is a consequential amendment required as a result of amendments inserting the hormone replacement therapy provisions. It provides a drafting clarification in respect of how the Health Insurance Act 1994 is referenced in the Bill.

Amendment No. 8 is a consequential amendment required as a result of the amendment inserting the hormone replacement therapy provisions. It substitutes the principal Act by the Act of 1994.

Amendment No. 9 is a consequential amendment required as a result of amendments inserting the HRT provisions.

Amendment No. 10 is a consequential amendment required as a result of amendments inserting the HRT provisions.

Amendment No. 11 is a consequential amendment required for the same reason.

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