Kildare South Senator Fiona O'Loughlin has said the passage of legislation for free HRT products is a momentous time for women’s healthcare.
Speaking of what she says is a transformative step for the women of Ireland she said: “I am absolutely thrilled to have had confirmation that legislation introduced by Minister Donnelly which will ensure women no longer have to pay for their HRT medication has passed through the Oireachtas."
The passage of the legislation paves the way for this to come into effect in January.
“This is a momentous time for women, and women’s healthcare overall. Fianna Fáil has invested significantly in women’s healthcare since re-entering government in 2020.
“The free HRT initiative will see the cost of HRT medication, including patches, funded for all women who need it.
O'Loughlin said not all women need HRT but there are well over 500,000 women are aged between 45-64, which is when women can be prescribed HRT by their doctors.
Reflecting on the news, O'Loughlin said the investment and hard work on women’s healthcare by Minister Donnelly since he took up the post at the start of government has been remarkable.
“I would like to take the time to commend the extremely hard work my party colleague and Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has done to improve healthcare and women’s healthcare in his time as Minister.
“He has launched the country’s first scheme enabling access to publicly funded assisted human reproduction, including IVF, he has launched a free contraception scheme and has expanded it to more and more age groups. He opened the country’s first ever menopausal clinic in 2021 and allocated funding for 5 further clinics across the country, and he has invested specialist endometriosis centres and fertility hubs.
Concluding she said: “Whilst I acknowledge we must continue this positive momentum, and still have plenty to do in healthcare, Fianna Fáil in government have already allocated significant funding for women’s health. This demonstrates Fianna Fáil's commitment to listen to women and respond with action.”
ENDS