Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2025
786. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated annual cost of free hormone replacement therapy for anyone who needs it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35678/25]
View answerA precise costing for the provision of free hormone replacement therapy based on clinical need cannot be provided without the following information:
• What conditions and products would be included in such an arrangement.
• Would the State provide payments to GPs for consultations to non-GMS patients.
Therefore, it is not possible to provide a costing without further clarification on the scope and scale of the proposed provision.
In relation to the recently commenced HRT arrangement for women experiencing symptoms associated with menopause, several months of claiming patterns are required to provide an accurate projection of the full annual cost. The current projection is that the additional cost in 2026 - beyond that currently paid for HRT under the community drug schemes - is estimated to be in the region of €28m.
