Ireland’s Free HRT Scheme Is Coming – Here’s EYNTK

Ireland’s free HRT scheme is finally set to commence this year. Here’s everything you need to know.

For those who aren’t aware, HRT stands for Hormone Replacement Therapy and is used to help relieve the symptoms of menopause, perimenopause and post menopause.

HRT comes in many different forms such as tablets, skin patches, gels, sprays, creams and pessaries and aims to help ease symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, vaginal dryness and reduced sex drive.

Although HRT is a treatment that gives women a better quality of life, it can also be difficult for many to obtain the treatment without breaking the bank.

The price of the treatment can range from €30-70 a month, up to €840 a year, if you don’t have access to a medical card. Many women have had to go months without the treatment or ration out their patches until they could afford more.

Over the last few years, many people on HRT have been very vocal about the fact that they still have to pay high prices for this treatment when it is practically a necessity.

@dr.blondieperes Can you learn all about #HRT in #30secs #womenshealth #menopause #ireland #drblondieperes #cork #irishtiktok #perimenopause #carrigaline #CapCut ♬ MILLION DOLLAR BABY (VHS) – Tommy Richman

This frustration heightened in January of this year as the free HRT scheme was scheduled to commence that month within Budget 2025. The Department then retracted the initial commencement and has pushed it back until now.

On June 1st the HSE will finally introduce the scheme, which will allow anyone who has been prescribed HRT to receive the medication for free. To be eligible to receive the treatment free of charge you must be registered for the Drugs Payment Scheme or have a medical card.

Unfortunately there will still be a charge for any GP visits to prescribe the treatment however, overall the new scheme is a big step in the right direction for women’s health in Ireland.

Minister for Health Carroll MacNeil stated “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.”

There has been large speculation around the dispensing fee for these products and if the fee would also be covered under this new scheme. The government had planned on the dispensing fee to be covered, costing the state €5 per product however, the pharmacy union have rejected this idea as €5 does not cover some of the pharmacies’ cost for dispensing the products.

The government is trying to incentivise pharmacies to agree to this scheme by giving them a once-off grant worth €1,000 for the administrative change. The Minster of Health has also urged pharmacies to consider the dispensing fee and expects that the scheme will go ahead as planned in June.

She has also since confirmed that the women will not be reimbursed for HRT they have paid for since January.