Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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461. To ask the Minister for Health for an update in liaising with an organisation (details supplied) regarding the roll out of the free HRT programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22239/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I recently announced that from the 1st June 2025, the provision of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) products for the treatment of the symptoms of menopause will be provided free to women at the point of dispensing. The implementation of this measure will now include a dispensing fee for pharmacists. This is step forward from the Budget 2025 announcement which only covered the medication costs.

This measure is also targeted at assisting women who do not have access to a medical card or whose HRT costs fall below the current Drugs Payment Scheme threshold of €80 per month.

My Department and the Health Service Executive (HSE) has engaged extensively with the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) in relation to the practical rollout of this measure. In addition to several meetings at official level, I met with the IPU on two separate occasions. At the first meeting we discussed my ambitions for extending the scope of community pharmacists and the implementation of the Budget 2025 HRT measure. The second meeting focused on the practical roll-out of the HRT measure.

I regret that the implementation of this measure could not be agreed with the IPU, despite engagement over many months. However, I must follow through on the commitment made in the Programme for Government: Securing Ireland's Future.

When operational, 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 HSE can add HRT medicines to the formal reimbursement list only in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. In line with the 2013 Act and the national framework agreed with industry, a company must apply to the HSE to have a medicine added to the reimbursement list.

Reimbursement support will commence from the 1st June 2025. A different and more complex mechanism would be needed to refund individuals for HRT costs incurred prior to that date. However, the measure as planned will now involve no costs for the prescribed HRT product at the point of dispensing in participating pharmacies.

There has also been ongoing engagement between Department officials and the IPU regarding the potential to extend the scope of practice of community pharmacists. I want to see pharmacists practicing at their full potential, delivering expert professional services and expanded healthcare roles like diagnosing and prescribing for common conditions. This will enhance patient access to health care, speed up diagnoses, and improve recovery, as we also continue to expand GP services for Ireland’s growing population. I look forward to working on this with pharmacies as the year progresses.