Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I commend the Cathaoirleach on travelling to Ukraine and representing this House.

I would like to raise the issue of hormone replacement therapy, HRT. There has been unprecedented investment in women's health under the current Minister for Health, including the opening of menopause clinics in major urban areas. There has also been significant public discourse on the menopause, including on "Liveline" and there is now a huge awareness among women of what exactly the menopause entails. However, with this new information comes massive empowerment and women are now effectively addressing their symptoms head on. This is leading to severe shortages of HRT products in Ireland and the UK. Yesterday, the Irish Pharmacy Union, IPU, asked the Minister to amend the rules so that pharmacists can prescribe alternative HRT treatments to address women's menopausal symptoms. At the moment there is a severe lack of supply of HRT products, in particular, oestregen patches. The HSE's medicines management programme needs to make it more attractive for pharmaceutical companies to provide HRT to the Irish market. At the moment, were they to enter the market they would have to sell their products at a 60% loss. The women of Ireland ultimately need oestrogen but it is not available and they are really worried. I would like to make sure that this issue is put at the top of the Minister's agenda again.