Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has indicated she hopes to resolve the ongoing delays in rolling out free Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) within “a couple of weeks,” as the initiative remains stalled months after its planned January launch.
Speaking in the Dáil, the minister addressed the standoff between the Department of Health and the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), explaining that while the government had budgeted for the medication costs, it hadn’t allocated funds for pharmacists’ dispensing fees.
“The government set aside money to pay for the products but not the dispensing fee for pharmacists,” Carroll MacNeill explained. “I am engaging with [the IPU] to see if there is something we can do, but the reality is we do not have the budget to carry the dispensing fees.”
The minister highlighted that patients currently pay between €48 and €62 for HRT products, which includes dispensing fees of €7-10 per product, often hidden within the total cost. Expanding the budget allocation would require cuts elsewhere in health services, she noted.
According to The Journal, following the minister’s comments, the IPU issued a statement confirming that they are “working with the Minister on a proposal that will work for women, the State and pharmacy,” suggesting potential progress in negotiations.
Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore, who raised the issue in the Dáil, called for clarity on the new timeline and suggested the Department should reimburse women for costs incurred during the delay, describing the situation as a “false promise” that had given hope to many women experiencing menopause.
HRT is a widely used treatment for relieving symptoms of menopause and perimenopause, making its promised free availability a significant health policy for many women across Ireland.