Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Sexual health has been a priority for the Department of Health; the National Sexual Health Strategy 2015-2020 (NSHS) was developed as a core policy under the Healthy Ireland Framework and remains a priority under the Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan 2021-2025. Implementation of the Strategy is led by the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme (SHCPP). It was extended until the end of 2022 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

An independent Review of the Strategy was undertaken in 2022-2023 by Crowe Ireland, was published in March and is available through the Healthy Ireland website. The Review identified 56 Priority Actions, of which 49 were assessed as having been successfully progressed. It also sets out 32 indicative recommendations to build on achievements, and to optimize development of a new Strategy.

An NSHS Redrafting Committee has been convened; the full group met for the first time on 12th July, 2023. The core Group is comprised of my Department’s sexual health policy leads, the Women’s Health Taskforce, the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme, representatives of the HSE Primary Care Division, the HSE National Women and Infants Health Programme and key clinical experts, including a representative from the Irish College of General Practitioners and the sexual health Clinical Lead. Other experts are contacted for input as needed.

The Group have determined that the new Strategy will adhere to the core principles of its predecessor. The first Strategy aimed to improve sexual health and wellbeing and reduce negative sexual health outcomes, recognizing the importance of supporting healthy attitudes to sexuality throughout the life course. This core focus will be retained.

However, the new Strategy will also benefit from a significant widening of scope and consideration of additional service capacity, including the achievements under the first Strategy and ambitions to develop these further. In addition to input from the core Group, additional experts will be consulted with regard to aspects of the new Strategy relevant to their areas of expertise.

The following priorities have been identified for the new National Sexual Health Strategy:

• implementing a Model of Care for sexual health services, with a key focus on prevention, treatment, information and surveillance for STIs, including HIV
• building capacity and meeting demand for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
• supporting sexual health information, education, communication and research
• further developing and expanding the Free Contraception Scheme for women and the National Condom Distribution Service, to support better access to contraception and STI prevention, also recognizing the key role of hormonal contraception in treating adverse period symptoms
• supporting other relevant policy areas across Government, including women’s, men’s and LGBTI+ health and inclusion and focusing on the sexual health-related elements of these areas of work

The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled for 8th November, 2023. It is envisaged that the Strategy will be brought to Government in late 2023 or early 2024. It should be noted that the sexual health and related services covered by the Strategy are funded and continue to be implemented, delivered and further developed while the new Strategy is being drafted.