Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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954. To ask the Minister for Health to reply to correspondence (details supplied) regarding HRT patches; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8022/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Reimbursement is for licensed indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).

In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact. HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).

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.

Budget 2025 announced the intention to fund the cost of HRT products prescribed to women to help manage the symptoms associated with all stages of menopause. This new HRT measure represents another step to widen access to and reduce costs associated with menopause related treatments and services and follows on from all the other developments that have taken place over several years.

The new Programme for Government: Securing Ireland’s Future continues to emphasise this important commitment to improving women’s health outcomes and experiences. It also commits to make HRT medicines available at no cost for the drug/product.

Legislation has been passed that means 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. My Department has engaged with both the Health Service Executive and the Irish Pharmacy Union in relation to the practical rollout of this measure.

I recently met with the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) to discuss my ambitions for expanding and reforming community pharmacy and to progressing the Budget 2025 HRT initiative. This was a constructive engagement, and I listened to issues raised by the IPU. The IPU has committed to coming to back to me regarding the introduction of the HRT arrangement. The goal is to introduce this measure as soon as possible and reimbursement support will be available to participating pharmacies from the date that this measure commences.