Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Chambers for raising this important issue relating to women's health and for her ongoing work in respect of it. The Minister for Health sends his apologies that he cannot be here.

As recommended in the Women's Health Action Plan 2022-2023, launched in March 2022, the Government aims to increase the public supports available to women before, during and after the menopause. This has included the provision of improved information, awareness, and treatment for women experiencing menopause in Ireland. Achievements to date include the It's My Time initiative, established in partnership with Sport Ireland, which aims to encourage women over 40 to increase physical activity levels, which can be helpful in managing menopause symptoms, and the establishment of a GP clinical lead for women's health funded by the women's health fund. In October 2022, the Minister for Health, in partnership with the Irish College of General Practitioners, ICGP, launched a quick reference guide for menopause, which gives evidence-based information on menopause management in general practice; also in October 2022, the national menopause awareness campaign was launched to inform, educate and lift the taboo around menopause. The campaign was accompanied by a dedicated Government web page as a one-stop shop to provide trusted information for anyone affected by menopause in Ireland.

Other important initiatives include the development of six specialist menopause clinics to treat complex symptoms of menopause. Five of the six planned clinics are currently open and operational at hospital sites around Ireland. There are three clinics in Dublin, one in Galway and one in Tipperary. The sixth clinic, located in Cork, is due to open later in 2023. These clinics treat complex symptoms of menopause.

In relation to the costs for HRT medications within the public system mentioned by the Senator, the onus is on a company to apply to the HSE to have a medicine added to the reimbursement list under the community drug schemes. Many HRT products are currently reimbursable by the HSE on both the general medical services, GMS, scheme and the drug payment scheme, DPS. Medical card holders can access these reimbursable HRT products, subject to payment of the statutory prescription charge. The DPS ensures that no individual or family pays more than €80 per month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines, which includes the reimbursement of HRT products. The DPS threshold was reduced to €80 per month on 1 March 2022 in recognition of the rising cost of living. The DPS is not means-tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland.

While there are no plans to make the provision of HRT products free of charge, the removal of VAT from non-oral forms of HRT medication since 1 January 2023 has also improved access to HRT treatment for women across the country.

Finally, neither the Minister for Health nor the HSE has any role in the setting of prices for medicines dispensed privately in pharmacies. These are commercial matters for the pharmacies themselves.