Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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811. To ask the Minister for Health to provide clarification regarding the rollout of free hormone replacement treatment for all women, which was due to be implemented in January 2025 (details supplied). [13965/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Menopause is an important health and wellbeing issue affecting many women in Ireland. Much important work has been done to expand awareness and treatment in this area, driven by the Women’s Health Taskforce and the Women’s Health Action Plans.

The 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.

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.

Legislation was passed in 2024 to enable the introduction of this new measure. It 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 HRT medications and products which are reimbursable by the HSE, which have been prescribed for the purposes of alleviating the symptoms of menopause. Reimbursement support for this new measure will be available to participating pharmacies from the date of commencement.

It should also be noted that medical card holders already have access to all reimbursable HRT medicines/products, subject to payment of the statutory prescription charge. In addition, many women avail of the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) to reduce the cost they pay to access reimbursable HRT products. The current monthly DPS threshold is €80.

The Department and HSE, has engaged extensively with the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) in relation to the practical rollout of this measure, which was intended to commence in January.

Last month I met with the IPU to discuss ambitions for expanding and reforming community pharmacy and on progressing the HRT initiative. The IPU committed to coming to back to me regarding the introduction of the HRT scheme. They have done so, and we remain actively engaged on the matter with the goal to introduce this measure as soon as possible.

The HPRA, along with other health service entities, is actively monitoring the national supply, and the current status is that HRT medicines are generally available. There are a number of medicines authorised for use in Ireland as HRT for the treatment of symptoms of menopause. In the event that patients are unable to source a medicinal product due to supply constraints, they are advised to discuss possible alternatives with their healthcare professional pending the resumption of normal supply.