1276. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the actions she will take to support women seeking alternative menopause treatments due to them being unable to take HRT for medical reasons, specifically in relation to the significant financial burden the cost of these treatments place on them. [64941/26]

1277. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of women seeking alternative menopause treatments due to them being unable to take HRT for medical reasons, specifically in relation to the significant financial burden the cost of these treatments place on them. [64940/26]

1281. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health her views on the merits of financially supporting alternative menopause treatments for women who cannot take HRT for medical reasons. [64939/26]

1282. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding any research ongoing in her Department into the merits of financially supporting alternative menopause treatments for women who cannot take HRT for medical reasons. [64938/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1276, 1277, 1281 and 1282 together.

On Tuesday, 5th November 2024 the Health Insurance (Amendment) and Health (Provision of Menopause Products) Bill 2024 passed all stages in the Oireachtas and was signed into law by the President of Ireland on 12th November 2024.

The legislation means that where a woman has been prescribed a Hormone Replacement Therapy product by her healthcare provider to alleviate the symptoms associated with all stages of menopause, the cost of the HRT medications or products will be met by the State. This will cover any HRT medications and products which are currently reimbursable by the Health Service Executive (HSE), which are prescribed for the purposes of alleviating the symptoms of menopause.

This measure covers the cost of HRT products for all stages of menopause. Menopause itself is a retrospective diagnosis as it can only be made after a full year of the absence of menstruation. It generally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. However, for the purpose of this measure, menopause means, in relation to a woman, the various stages for the treatment of menopause symptoms and includes perimenopause, post menopause, early menopause, premature menopause and medically induced menopause.

Where a woman has been prescribed HRT by her healthcare provider to alleviate the symptoms associated with all stages of menopause, the cost of the HRT medications or products will be met by the State. Fees associated with GP or other menopause medical consultations will not be covered as part of this measure.

Women can then present to their pharmacies with their prescriptions to obtain the medications or products free of charge, noting however that the pharmacy will likely charge a professional and/or a dispensing fee.

Medical card holders will not be required to pay dispensing fees in respect of the menopause medication/products obtained but will continue to pay prescription fees for the items as is current practice.

At present, this measure relates only to HRT products for the treatment of menopause symptoms as HRT is the most commonly used treatment for managing menopausal symptoms and has been shown to be the most effective intervention.

It is important to acknowledge that there are women who are contraindicated for the use of HRT in treating their menopause symptoms, and there are women who choose not to take HRT in some instances. In these cases, it is important to discuss options with a GP, or in some cases an oncologist, to decide the best course of action for the treatment of these symptoms.

Some women experiencing more complex symptoms, including those who are contraindicated for the use of HRT, may be referred to one of our Specialist Menopause Clinics for continued care, free of charge.

Menopause has been highlighted as a priority area by the Women’s Health Taskforce and is a key action in the Women’s Health Action Plans. A number of measures have been implemented in recent years to improve the experience of menopause for women in Ireland, including this HRT arrangement.

These developments are focused on building capability and improving services at community level as well as developing the necessary specialist clinics. The actions include:

• The appointment of a GP Clinical Lead for Women’s Health.

• The development of training courses in Menopause for GPs and GP trainees via the Irish College of General Practitioners, to improve knowledge and understanding of menopause in the community care setting.

• Evidence-based guidance support for GPs through the development of a Quick Reference Guide on Menopause.

• A very successful National Menopause Awareness campaign which was accompanied by the launch of a dedicated webpage to provide trusted information for anyone affected by menopause in Ireland.

• 6 specialist menopause clinics are now open for women who have complex experiences of menopause.

• The removal of VAT from non-oral forms of HRT since 1 January 2023 has improved access for those who need it.

• The development of the Civil Service Menopause in the Workplace Policy Framework.

These initiatives are all a direct response to the demand from Irish women for greater knowledge, understanding and support for menopause as well as better access to accurate information and supports so that they can proactively manage their experience. More information about menopause, its symptoms, and treatment can be found on HSE.ie/menopause.

The women’s health programme has sought to address the research gaps in women's health in recent years with a number of research projects supported to better inform the development of policy.

€2 million in funding for women’s health research was announced in December 2025. This is the first time Irish research funding has been dedicated specifically to women’s health. This funding will be allocated to an Applied Partnership Awards scheme in Women’s Health Research which will be administered through the Health Research Board. The investment aims to address a historic gap in knowledge and understanding of women’s health issues and the impact of gender on health outcomes and experiences. The new Applied Partnership Awards in Women’s Health Research represent a more structured and strategic approach to commissioning research in Women’s Health.