Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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457. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 1632 and 1633 of 4 November 2025, whether healthcare providers must indicate eligibility/ineligibility for the free HRT scheme on the prescriptions transmitted to pharmacists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62489/25]

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. Several 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 legislation does not make amendments to what must be included in a prescription for it to be considered valid.

Currently, prescriptions written by Irish registered prescribers practicing in Ireland are valid whether presented in paper format or received through Healthmail. Healthmail is a secure clinical email service that allows health care providers to send and receive clinical patient information in a secure manner. The service is provided by the Primary Care Directorate of the HSE and is managed by eHealth Ireland and supported by the Irish College of General Practitioners and the Irish Pharmacy Union.