Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise the issue of hyperemesis. Morning sickness is an unfortunate and unpleasant part of pregnancy for many women but hyperemesis is much more serious. It is a condition that results in very severe sickness and renders women malnourished and dehydrated at times. One in 100 pregnancies will result in hospitalisation of the expectant mother because of hyperemesis. There are drugs available to treat it. People may be aware of the media having covered high-profile cases of celebrities suffering from this condition. In Ireland, those drugs are currently not covered by any scheme. While some expectant mothers may be able to cover the cost of the medication, many cannot. For those who have to pay for it out of their pocket, it creates enormous anxiety and extra stress during pregnancy. For those who cannot, it creates enormous problems with the pregnancy. In all the circumstances that is wrong. It is unfair on the women involved. It endangers their pregnancies. This needs to be addressed.

I understand the medicines management agency has been given the task by the Minister to look at this in some detail. We hope it will come to a conclusion about that. Hyperemesis Ireland is running a campaign with the hashtag #HG2costly to highlight this and put pressure on the appropriate authorities to bring the drugs under a scheme that allows them to be given to women who need them. The House should also be supporting that campaign by perhaps having a debate and bringing the Minister in to help put this front and centre, deal with a real issue and make sure that the women who need the drugs can get them.