Southside TDs criticise government botching HRT scheme promised in budget

Southside TDs have criticised the government for botching a rollout of hormone replacement treatments that was promised in the Budget.

The scheme, which was meant to be made available to women with menopause on January 1, has slipped through the cracks and has yet to be made available.

In the Budget, €20 million was put aside for hormone replacement therapy for women going through menopause.

Social Democrats TD Sineád Gibney 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.”

The Dublin Rathdown TD 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 is now 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.”

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett said he wrote to the Minister for Health about when the scheme will be introduced, only to receive a tertiary “as soon as possible” response.

“It is not acceptable that the Minister has still not begun reimbursements and hasn’t even set a date for the start of reimbursements. Women are incurring substantial costs for HRT now but will not receive reimbursement,” he said.

The Dún Laoghaire TD said it was “unacceptable” that when reimbursement does eventually begin, the Minister has said the cost of GP consultation fees and pharmacy dispensing fees will not be eligible for reimbursement.

“This is another Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael betrayal of women as the Dáil goes off for another two-week break; women cannot wait any longer,” he said.