Gibney says womens healthcare is suffering amid funding lapse

Social Democrats TD has called the botched rollout of free hormone replacement therapy for women “farcical.”

The much-touted plan, announced by outgoing Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly in October’s budget, was meant to launch on January 1st but the rollout has been beset, in the typical Irish style, with unexplained delays.

In the budget, €20 million was put aside for hormone replacement therapy for women going through menopause. measure that was supposed to be in place by the start of January.

The Dublin Rathdown TD said “it is completely unacceptable that the rollout of free hormone replacement therapy for women has been delayed by a farcical blame game between the Department of Health and pharmacists.”

She commented, “women suffering from symptoms of menopause have found themselves caught in the crossfire of an unedifying row between the department and the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU).”

“However, instead of seeing a reduction in their monthly medical expenses, women are still being charged in full for HRT products, with no clarity as to when the scheme will be introduced.”

Gibney sided with the IPU in the row, saying that they have raised concerns about implementation gaps and insufficient preparedness by the outgoing government and asserted that the Department of Health hare now as blaming pharmacists for the delay in a dispute over dispensing fees.

“It is unfortunate that these issues were not resolved in advance of legislation being passed to give effect to the free HRT scheme, as this delay has left thousands of women out of pocket,” she noted.

“Whatever the reasons for the blockage, there must be an immediate end to this needless bickering between the department and the IPU in the interest of women’s healthcare.”