Latest news with #DrugsPaymentScheme
Irish Examiner
8 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Call for publicly funded medication for breast cancer survivors who cannot take HRT
Breast cancer survivors who cannot take HRT should have some post-cancer medicines funded instead as they are 'invisible' in the menopause debate, one Cork survivor has urged. Some cancer treatments can push women of any age into medical menopause. Symptoms are usually harsher and longer lasting than for natural menopause, according to the HSE. Marguerite Herlihy was just 40 when she was diagnosed last year. She praised Cork University Hospital for her successful initial treatment. However she has oestrogen-positive cancer meaning it can be stimulated by hormones. This is why taking HRT is ruled out. 'You gear yourself up for the chemo and you gear yourself up for the radiotherapy and all of that, but there is no such thing as being finished then,' she said. 'The hormone-blockers I am now taking are part of the cancer treatment. In fact my oncologist told me the hormone-blockers are probably more important for me and more effective than the chemo.' The blockers prevent oestrogen from bringing back cancer for the mother of three. She said: But I went into menopause immediately like I fell off a cliff. 'So I've another 12 years of a lack of oestrogen (before my natural menopause starts).' She stressed: 'I'm so happy for other women to get free HRT lately, but while women are getting that I am paying the €80 a month to block my oestrogen under the Drugs Payment Scheme. 'So over the next 10 years that is going to mount up, it will be thousands I could invest in my kids. I do think with the HRT we're invisible in the debate about free HRT.' Ms Herlihy, a secondary-school teacher who lives in Aherla, said: 'I would love for the Government to offset the €80 a month for me like they are doing for the women getting HRT.' She feels health services generally are good, but said: 'Going forward I am paying to block my oestrogen when the government are paying to give women extra free oestrogen.' She was also 'devastated' to miss out on an international clinical trial for an advanced breast cancer drug. 'It was like a shining beacon for me,' she said. 'I missed out on it by a couple of weeks because cancer trials are too slow coming in Ireland. I missed out because of the red-tape, the legal work or the GDPR was taking too long to navigate. I was on my hormone blockers for too long by the time they were ready.' Marguerite Herlihy: 'I'm so happy for other women to get free HRT lately, but while women are getting that I am paying the €80 a month to block my oestrogen under the Drugs Payment Scheme.' Picture: Dan Linehan About 3,600 women in Ireland are diagnosed with breast cancer annually. The Irish Cancer Society said figures are not available for how many are affected by medical menopause. 'This affects a large amount of our patients,' a spokeswoman said. 'I think that the unmet need speaks for itself, given that we have no statistics as to how many women this can affect.' The society has published a free booklet with University College Cork containing targeted advice on nutrition for women in Ms Herlihy's position. She described food as a minefield with many things to avoid, saying: 'This is probably the first book that specifies anything for us.'
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Meath leads with 94pc pharmacy uptake in free HRT scheme for women
A total of 59 pharmacies across the county — a 94pc uptake — are now offering the medication at no cost, making Meath one of the top counties in terms of participation in the initiative aimed at supporting women during perimenopause and menopause. The scheme, which provides free HRT once prescribed by a GP or consultant, is being welcomed by Meath Senator Linda Nelson Murray. The Fine Gael Senator described the free medications as 'good news for those who choose to use it.' She said: "As someone who takes HRT myself, it is so important for women to have access to them for free.' 'We have 94pc of pharmacies in County Meath signed up, that's great because I know how much help HRT gives. As women, we haven't been able to talk about things like this….there's a lot of things women go through and don't speak about; like periods and menopause, and the difficulties women face with those two particular things.' Ms Nelson Murray said that without the scheme, the medications could cost €30 to €60 depending on what HRT people are on. She added: 'The free HRT is good news for those who choose to use it. Plenty of people don't and that's completely okay.' 'Maybe 10 years ago, women didn't talk about it; unfortunately a lot of women were suffering in silence. Now we don't have to.' Under the new scheme, women must be registered with the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) to qualify. Registration can be completed online. Medical card holders can continue to access HRT medication without needing a DPS card. Women in Meath seeking to find their nearest participating pharmacy can use the HSE's online pharmacy finder tool. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Good news for those who choose to use HRT
A total of 59 pharmacies across the county — a 94pc uptake — are now offering the medication at no cost, making Meath one of the top counties in terms of participation in the initiative aimed at supporting women during perimenopause and menopause. The scheme, which provides free HRT once prescribed by a GP or consultant, is being welcomed by Meath Senator Linda Nelson Murray. The Fine Gael Senator described the free medications as 'good news for those who choose to use it.' She said: "As someone who takes HRT myself, it is so important for women to have access to them for free.' 'We have 94pc of pharmacies in County Meath signed up, that's great because I know how much help HRT gives. As women, we haven't been able to talk about things like this….there's a lot of things women go through and don't speak about; like periods and menopause, and the difficulties women face with those two particular things.' Ms Nelson Murray said that without the scheme, the medications could cost €30 to €60 depending on what HRT people are on. She added: 'The free HRT is good news for those who choose to use it. Plenty of people don't and that's completely okay.' 'Maybe 10 years ago, women didn't talk about it; unfortunately a lot of women were suffering in silence. Now we don't have to.' Under the new scheme, women must be registered with the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) to qualify. Registration can be completed online. Medical card holders can continue to access HRT medication without needing a DPS card. Women in Meath seeking to find their nearest participating pharmacy can use the HSE's online pharmacy finder tool.
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
94pc of Wicklow pharmacies sign up for free HRT scheme
If you have a prescription for HRT from a GP, registered nurse or midwife and you are registered for the Drugs Payment Scheme or have a medical card, you can get free HRT medicine from a pharmacy participating in the Free Hormone Replacement Therapy scheme, of which 94pc of Wicklow pharmacies have signed up. Women can identify their nearest pharmacy to them that is providing the service by using the HSE pharmacy finder, at Praising Wicklow pharmacies for their 'extremely positive' uptake of the scheme, Wicklow TD Edward Timmins said he was grateful to Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill for engaging with all stakeholders so successfully to 'deliver this medication free of charge for the many women around the country who need it'. 'The majority of pharmacies across the country are participating in this scheme, and this figure is increasing daily, meaning that all women will be able to access this free medication in a pharmacy convenient for them,' he said. 'In Wicklow, 94pc of pharmacies will offer the free medication to women, which is extremely positive. 'It's important to note that the new arrangement includes a pharmacy dispensing fee, so medication will be completely free. 'The symptoms women encounter during perimenopause and menopause are varied, and women's lives can be hugely impacted,' he added. 'HRT is such an important medicinal regime for women and can positively improve their lives and make daily living much easier. This scheme is transformational for women. I commend the pharmacies here in Wicklow who have joined the scheme to continue to provide vital healthcare to our communities.'
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Free HRT now available in over 1,600 pharmacies, says HSE
The HSE has published a list of pharmacies where women can access free hormone replacement therapy (HRT), with more than 1,600 already participating. The scheme launched on Sunday, though it was originally expected to begin in January. Women can now search by pharmacy name or address on the HSE website using a page titled Find a pharmacy offering free HRT. To avail of the service, women need a GP prescription and must first register for the Drugs Payment Scheme. Dr Clíona Murphy, national clinical director for the HSE National Women and Infants Health Programme, said many women experience debilitating symptoms during menopause. 'The symptoms, which are caused by changes in our hormones, can include hot flushes, night sweats, flushing, which can be distressing for people affected,' she said. 'Hormone replacement therapy is a medicine-based treatment which can really improve the quality of life for people experiencing symptoms. HRT helps to balance and replace the hormones that your body no longer produces in the same way.' She welcomed the fact that it is now free for those who need it, saying this gives people more options. 'The decision to take HRT should be made in consultation with your doctor,' she advised. Women can also register for the Drugs Payment Scheme on the HSE website. They must provide their name, date of birth, sex, PPS number, and contact details. The scheme also serves to track medications dispensed. Health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said: 'this is a fantastic support for women and a significant milestone in our commitment to women's health'. She said the move is 'removing financial barriers and providing vital support during all stages of menopause' for women. 'I thank the Irish Pharmacy Union for their partnership in this initiative and those pharmacies right across Ireland that have signed up. I encourage women to log on to the HSE's pharmacy finder to locate their nearest participating pharmacy,' she said. Last month the IPU backed the new plans for a free HRT rollout having described an earlier scheme as unviable. IPU president Tom Murray said: '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.'
