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5th November 2024
04:54pm GMT
The introduction of free hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in Ireland is hailed as a groundbreaking development for menopausal women.
The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly today announced the completion of the Health Insurance (Amendment) and Health (Provision of Menopause Products) Bill in the Seanad, completing its passage through both Houses of the Oireachtas.
The Bill, which contains legislation providing for publicly-funded HRT will now be sent to the President for signature.
The passing of the legislation paves the way for state-funded HRT products to be made available from January to women experiencing symptoms of menopause.
The initiative is being supported by €20 million in funding as part of Budget 2025.
Minister Donnelly said: “Today marks another important milestone in the ongoing evolution of women’s healthcare in Ireland. The past four years have seen unprecedented investment and improvement in services for women across all life stages, including the roll-out of free contraception, specialist clinics for the management of menopause and endometriosis and publicly-funded IVF.
“No one should be financially disadvantaged in accessing healthcare because of their gender, and by funding HRT products that have been prescribed for women experiencing symptoms of menopause, we are significantly reducing the cost burden.
“I’m delighted that the passage of this Bill through both Houses of the Oireachtas now provides a legal basis for this provision, and I look forward to seeing legislation enacted in the coming weeks.”
The move will offer relief from symptoms that many have endured in silence over the years.
Advocacy groups and campaigners have said this initiative is a vital step in addressing the healthcare needs of women during menopause.
The hope is that this will significantly improve their quality of life.
This new measure is part of a broader €35 million women's healthcare package announced in the Budget and is set to be implemented in January 2025.
Under the plan, the State will cover the cost of HRT treatments, like patches and other medications, which could save women as much as €840 per year.
Loretta Dignam, CEO of The Menopause Hub, has said she is in strong support of the initiative, and that it has the potential to be a lifeline for many women.
“Offering free HRT to women will give relief to thousands in Ireland struggling with symptoms like anxiety, hot flushes, and insomnia," Dignam said.
She went on to say that this is not just a healthcare issue, it’s also an economic one, as many women have been forced to pay for expensive monthly products for most of their lives.
Many women have been spending between €30 and €70 per month on treatments, and this new policy will finally ease that financial burden.
"At last, women can improve their daily lives without worrying about the cost," Dignam added.
Dignam then called for further action on women’s health. She proposed the introduction of free mid-life health checks for women aged 45 to 64, which could diagnose conditions like heart disease and osteoporosis at an early stage.
She said that detecting these health issues sooner would not only benefit women, but could also save the State millions by reducing the need for expensive treatments for advanced conditions.
From January 2025, all women who are using HRT treatments will receive their medication free of charge.
