Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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832. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on free HRT scheme. [6330/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for this question. 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.

Budget 2025 announced the intention to fund the cost of HRT products prescribed to a woman to help manage the symptoms associated with all stages of menopause. This 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.

On 5th November 2024 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 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 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.

I met last week with the Irish Pharmacy Union to discuss my objectives for expanding and reforming community pharmacy more generally and for progressing the Budget 2025 HRT initiative. The Department of Health has engaged with both the Health Service Executive and the Irish Pharmacy Union in relation to the practical rollout of this measure. We will continue working to introduce this measure as soon as possible.