Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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442. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 609 of 23 September 2025, to clarify if a group were excluded from the costing for the free hormone replacement therapy (HRT) scheme; if so, to outline how, given the details of an internal communication in relation to the basis for the costing (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62378/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Under the Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) measure, which came into effect on 1 June 2025, where a woman has been prescribed HRT by her healthcare provider for the purpose of alleviating the symptoms associated with all stages of menopause, the cost of the HRT medications or products, and the pharmacy dispensing fees will be met by the State.

This measure is intended to support the management of the symptoms of menopause and, therefore, relates to the provision of treatment for the symptoms a specific medical condition/life stage i.e. menopause. HRT is the most commonly used treatment for managing symptoms of menopause and has shown to be the most effective intervention.

Menopause has been highlighted as a key priority area by the Women’s Health Taskforce. It is a key action in the Women’s Health Action Plans. A number of measures have been implemented in recent years to improve the experience of menopause for women in Ireland, including this HRT arrangement.

I am aware that HRT is used in the treatment of other medical conditions/circumstances, including gender-affirming healthcare, hypogonadism, IVF, and some cancer treatments. However, the current provision of the Free HRT Arrangement, legislated for under the Health Insurance (Amendment) and Health (Provision of Menopause Products) Act 2024, limits eligibility to those whose healthcare provider has prescribed HRT to alleviate the symptoms of menopause.

The costing outlined by the Deputy was based on an analysis of population data and a projection of the number of HRT items dispensed annually. The costing did not encompass the payment of a dispensing fee to pharmacists.