Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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1086. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the national plan to make hormone replacement therapy free to all women, which was due to be introduced on 1 January 2025, has not been implemented; when the scheme will be operational; the details of the engagement between her Department and an organisation (details supplied) on the rollout of the measure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2331/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Menopause is an important health and wellbeing issue which has been prioritised as part of the Government’s commitment to improved women’s health outcomes.

Much important work has been done in this area, driven by the Women’s Health Taskforce and the Women’s Health Action Plans, launched in 2022 and 2024.

The new Programme for Government: Securing Ireland’s Future continues to emphasise this important commitment to improving women’s health outcomes and experiences. The new HRT measure represents another step to widen access to menopause related treatments and services and follows on from all the other developments that have taken place over several years.

Budget 2025 announced the intention to fund the medicine cost of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) products prescribed to a woman to help manage the symptoms associated with all stages of menopause.

On Tuesday, 5th November the Health Insurance (Amendment) and Health (Provision of Menopause Products) Bill 2024 passed all stages in the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law.

This legislation means that where a woman has been prescribed a Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) product by her healthcare provider to alleviate the symptoms associated with all stages of menopause, the cost of the HRT medications or products will be met by the State.

For the purpose of this measure, menopause means, in relation to a woman, the various stages for the treatment of menopause symptoms and includes perimenopause, post menopause, early menopause, premature menopause and medically induced menopause.

This measure will cover any HRT medications and products which are currently reimbursable by the HSE, which have been prescribed for the purposes of alleviating the symptoms of menopause. The cost of GP consultation fees and pharmacy dispensing fees are not included in the measure.

The Department of Health engaged with both the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Irish Pharmacy Union in relation to the practical rollout of this measure.

The Department of Health is working to introduce this measure as soon as possible.