Crucial for women’s healthcare that pharmacies play their part in delivering free HRT – Boland

Pharmacies need to come on board en masse to deliver the free HRT that women need, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Grace Boland, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal West, said that while details of the free HRT scheme will come as a relief to women around the country, pharmacists may be reluctant to engage. Pharmacists play such an important role in delivering high quality healthcare in Ireland, is it vital they are involved in rolling out this scheme that is so crucial to so many Irish women.

Deputy Boland said: “I am grateful to Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill for engaging with all stakeholders including the Irish Pharmacy Union to ensure this scheme was rolled out. Implementing the free HRT scheme announced by her predecessor was always a priority for the Minister since she took office.

“Minister Carroll MacNeill is committed to supporting each participating community pharmacy by paying them a €5 dispensing fee per HRT 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 €1,000 once-off grant to every participating community pharmacy.

“The implementation of the scheme should focus on the women in need of this medication. The symptoms women encounter during perimenopause and menopause are varied and women’s lives are hugely impacted by these symptoms. We need to focus on why HRT is such an important medicinal regime for women and how it can positively impact their lives and make daily living more bearable.

“I would urge all pharmacies including those the Irish Pharmacy Union represent to engage with the scheme proposed today by the Minister. It is essential that women have the support of their local trusted pharmacist when embarking on any medication; in particular, if any changes are needed during their treatment. Women will no doubt contact their own pharmacies to encourage them to engage with the scheme so they can be provided with the free medication they are now entitled to.

“This scheme is transformational for women. Fine Gael and the Government is playing its part by committing to financially reimburse pharmacies a dispensing fee. I would ask all pharmacies to now think of their customers and the needs of the community they want to serve.”