In a groundbreaking policy advancement led by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, multitudes of women may soon be given the provision for free hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Constituting prescription medicine, HRT ameliorates menopausal symptoms such as nocturnal sweating, mood fluctuations, genital dryness and diminished libido. HRT comes in various forms including tablets, skin patches, creams, gels, and vaginal pessaries, substituting the hormones which decline during the perimenopause and menopause phases.
The Minister’s spokesperson stated that health authorities are in the closing stages of formulating a plan for the government to cover the expenses of HRT medication for those in need. “The Minister has made women’s health a foremost priority since assuming office. He has earmarked significant additional funding specifically dedicated to fostering advancements and new services in women’s health. The intention is to launch a publicly-funded HRT programme, with further detail to follow in the imminent weeks,” the spokesperson confirmed.
Most women transition into menopause between the age of 45 and 55. In Ireland, over 500,000 women aged within this bracket could be potential beneficiaries of the scheme, although it isn’t necessary for all women to undergo treatment to palliate symptoms. The Department’s 2022 study disclosed that nearly 20% of Irish women experienced severe menopausal symptoms.
Monthly HRT costs differ based on the medication type, typically ranging from €30 to €70. Until now, only those possessing a medical card could avail of HRT from the State.
In 2022, a statement was released by Mr Donnelly in which he mentioned that the HSE predicted the yearly expense of offering free HRT to everyone in need would surpass €10 million. However, he pointed out that this prediction fails to factor in any decrease in the income from prescription charges, any potential future demographic adjustments, or the effect of free distribution on uptake. This implies that the actual cost could be substantially higher.
The expenses for HRT, readily accessible at no cost, will be covered using funds that have already been assigned to the department from the women’s health fresh development fund.
In 2002, a study from the US, known as the Women’s Health Initiative study, proposed that HRT played a part in causing breast cancer, which led to a significant decrease in the medication’s usage. However, the proposed findings have since been largely discredited, and contemporary HRT products are acknowledged to have an excellent safety standard.