Ireland’s Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has a bold vision: free contraception for every woman and girl aged 16 and up.
Currently, the government provides free birth control to women between 17 and 35 years old. But Donnelly wants to expand this program even further.
“For me, contraception should be for all women from 16 up, that should be it,” Donnelly told.
The minister hopes to make progress on this goal in the upcoming budget talks. However, he admits that cost is a major factor. “Free contraception is really expensive,” Donnelly explained.
According to The Journal, the government has been gradually expanding the program due to budget constraints. In July, it was extended to include women aged 32-35.
Donnelly also has other women’s health initiatives in mind:
- Free fertility treatments like IVF for more couples
- Free hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for all women experiencing menopause symptoms
While these plans are ambitious, the minister faces challenges. Supply shortages for HRT have been an issue, and expanding these programs comes with a hefty price tag.
Despite the obstacles, Donnelly remains committed to improving women’s healthcare access in Ireland. “I want it to be universal,” he said, referring to the HRT program. “I wanted to be free for the user… that’s what we want to achieve.”