Press Release: Tuesday 15 April 2025
Minister Carroll MacNeill announces state funded HRT will commence for women from 1 June and announces she is also covering a dispensing fee – a step forward from Budget 2025 which only covered the medication costs
Minister asks pharmacies to sign up so women can get completely free HRT products from 1 June
Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, has today (Tuesday, 15 April 2025) set out how the Budget 2025 Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) initiative, which is designed to give patients access to HRT products and medicines at no charge, will be implemented, and has been developed.
Minister Carroll MacNeill, said:
“I have written to all community pharmacies today asking that they support and facilitate the women in their communities to access State-funded HRT products and medicines.
“In doing so, I am committed to supporting each participating pharmacy by paying them a €5 dispensing fee per HRT medicine/product dispensed to all eligible patients, including those existing patients under the GMS/DPS Schemes and for all other patients prescribed HRT (“private patients”), and a €1,000 once-off grant to every participating community pharmacy.
“I have set the 1st of June as the date for commencement of this support. This will allow participating pharmacies time to be ready to facilitate the free HRT scheme to their customers.
“This means that women would be able to access the product and medicines at no charge, including dispensing fees in participating pharmacies from the 1 June. This is an advancement on the Budget 2025 measure which covered the cost of the medication only, and the women would have had to pay for the dispensing fee. Under this new measure women will have to pay nothing if their pharmacy signs up.
“Improving care before, during, and after menopause is a priority for me and for the Government. We are committed to removing the cost of HRT medicines and products for women and Budget 2025 provided funding for the provision of State-funded HRT products for women experiencing symptoms of menopause.
“I hope today’s commitment to pay a dispensing fee of €5 per product and a €1,000 once-off grant to participating pharmacists will deliver this initiative to the women of Ireland, noting that this is in addition to the Budget 2025 commitment to cover the cost of the medication.”
The HSE will today notify all community pharmacies of the reimbursement arrangements, the process for participation and the mechanism to receive the €1,000 grant. An information campaign will commence in the coming days providing further information for patients. The prescription charges for medical card holders in relation to HRT medicines and products on the reimbursement list would also be abolished.
The Department of Health regrets that an agreed implementation of this measure could not be agreed with the Irish Pharmacy Union, despite engagement over many months.
To try to find a resolution to the remaining issue regarding dispensing fees, the Minister offered the IPU the option of:
- A €5 dispensing fee per HRT medicine/product dispensed to all eligible patients, including those existing patients under the GMS/DPS Schemes and all other patients prescribed HRT (“private patients”) to be funded from the combined allocation for 2025 for pharmacy and HRT, and a €1,000 once-off grant to every participating community pharmacy.
OR
- A €3,000 once-off grant to every participating community pharmacy. Community Pharmacies may then have continued to apply dispensing fees as before, having regard to existing arrangements.
These offers did not lead to an agreement with the IPU.
Minister Carroll MacNeill, concluded:
“I want to see pharmacists practicing at their full potential, delivering expert professional services and expanded healthcare roles like diagnosing and prescribing for common conditions. This will enhance patient access to health care, speed up diagnoses, and improve recovery, as we also continue to expand GP services for Ireland’s growing population. I look forward to working on this with pharmacies as the year progresses.”