Free HRT for women to be widely available in pharmacies from June 1 after talks breakthrough
The breakthrough, which will lead to women saving €30 to €70 a month, came after the Department of Health announced it was ready to enter talks with pharmacists on their wider demands around expanded services and improvement in fees paid to them under State schemes such as for medical card holders.
It paves the way for the free HRT scheme, which was opposed by the IPU last month because they said the €5 dispensing fee was unsustainable, to now go ahead.
Women who are prescribed HRT will receive the product entirely free at their pharmacy from June 1 as long as the pharmacist signs up.
Not all pharmacists are obliged to sign up to the scheme but the endorsement of the IPU will mean a greater spread of pharmacies participating.
President of the IPU Tom Murray said today: 'Our main priority with the HRT scheme has been to ensure women receive the medication they need without cost. We are endorsing the scheme in good faith, backed by the broader commitments in this framework, including a review of the pharmacy fee structure has welcomed commencement of talks under a new framework agreement with the Department of Health and HSE aimed at securing the sustainable future of pharmacy services'
Earlier, Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill published a Framework of Engagement to support the commencement of focused talks between the State and the IPU on State contract services including fees.
She said that 'recognising a shared commitment to conclude talks and reach a timely agreed outcome, these talks will take place over the next three months, with the first meeting scheduled next Wednesday.'
Commenting on the decision of the IPU to lift opposition to the HRT scheme she said: 'The arrangement will include a pharmacy dispensing fee of €5 per HRT item, and a €2,000 once-off grant to each participating community pharmacy to support transition arrangements including ICT system upgrades.
She added: 'I am delighted that the women of Ireland will be able to receive their HRT medication completely free of charge in participating pharmacies from June 1, 2025.
'With the full support of the IPU for the free HRT scheme, I anticipate that every pharmacy will now sign up, which I warmly welcome.
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'Our pharmacists and community pharmacies are pillars of the community. They are the most accessible healthcare profession and are hugely trusted by the public.
'I hugely welcome the contribution pharmacists make to women's health and to our health services. I look forward to continuing to work closely with the sector in the coming weeks and months.'
Clare Fitzell, newly appointed Secretary General of the IPU, also welcomed the framework. 'We are encouraged by the ambition and scope of this framework and look forward to collaborating with the Department of Health and HSE on its implementation.
'However, time is critical. Pharmacies have highlighted the growing pressures of the current funding model for years, and each month of delay compounds this challenge. It's imperative that this framework progresses into a fully formed contractual agreement without delay. We therefore acknowledge and welcome the intention for the process to be completed within three months ahead of the busy winter season.'
She concluded: 'We thank the Minister for Health for her personal commitment to realising the potential of pharmacists' professional role, and our wider role in community healthcare delivery. The IPU will remain fully engaged in ensuring its swift and effective conclusion.'
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