Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:883. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if the Government is currently reviewing the reimbursement status of testosterone products prescribed to women. [68963/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 29 September 2026
Ceisteanna (883, 884, 885, 886)
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:884. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the reason female-specific testosterone formulations are not currently included in the free HRT arrangements. [68964/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMary Lou McDonald
Ceist:885. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if she will consider adding appropriate female testosterone formulations to the reimbursement list in the treatment of menopause and perimenopause. [68966/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMary Lou McDonald
Ceist:886. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to ensure that women requiring testosterone are able to access an appropriate formulation without having to pay privately. [68967/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 883 to 886, inclusive, together.
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines. This arises from the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
Reimbursement is for licensed indications which have been granted marketing authorisation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). Pharmaceutical companies must apply to the HSE for reimbursement.
Under the Free Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) arrangement, which came into effect on 1 June 2025, where a woman has been prescribed a HRT product on the reimbursement list by her healthcare provider for the purpose of alleviating the symptoms associated with all stages of menopause, the cost of the HRT medications or products, and the dispensing fees will be met by the State.
This measure is intended to support the management of the symptoms of menopause and, therefore, relates to the provision of treatment for a specific medical condition/life stage i.e. menopause. HRT is the most commonly used treatment for managing symptoms of menopause and has shown to be the most effective intervention.
Menopause has been highlighted as a key priority area by the Women’s Health Taskforce. It is a key action in the Women’s Health Action Plans. A number of measures have been implemented in recent years to improve the experience of menopause for women in Ireland, including this HRT arrangement.
HRT is used in the treatment of other medical conditions, including gender-affirming healthcare, hypogonadism, IVF, and some cancer treatments. However, the current provision of the Free HRT Arrangement, legislated for under the Health Insurance (Amendment) and Health (Provision of Menopause Products) Act 2024, limits eligibility to those whose healthcare provider has prescribed HRT to alleviate the symptoms of menopause.
The legislation includes the following definitions which limits the arrangement to items on the reimbursement list indicated for the treatment of the symptoms of all stages of menopause:
“‘menopause’ means, in relation to a woman, the various stages related to menopause and includes perimenopause, post menopause, early menopause, premature menopause and medically induced menopause;
‘menopause products’ means hormone replacement therapy drugs, medicines and surgical and medical appliances used to alleviate the symptoms of menopause, which are for the time being on the Reimbursement List.
Question No. 884 answered with Question No. 883.
Question No. 885 answered with Question No. 883.
Question No. 886 answered with Question No. 883.