The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) is calling on all political parties to back a bold new proposal for an integrated Women’s Health Plan. This transformative initiative would provide seamless, comprehensive care for women at every stage of life — from their teenage years through menopause — by uniting the existing free contraception and the proposed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) schemes, said the Union.
The plan aims to revolutionise women’s healthcare, removing barriers and ensuring every woman in the country has access to the care she needs without interruption or additional cost.
Kathy Maher, Chair of the IPU’s Pharmacy Contractors Committee, said: “We welcome the Minister for Health’s commitment to women’s health through the provision of HRT. However, the budget allocation to fund only the medication while excluding professional pharmacy dispensing fees creates a gap that could limit the scheme’s success. Our integrated Women’s Health Plan would address this by combining the HRT and free contraception schemes into one streamlined service, eliminating unnecessary hurdles and ensuring consistency in care.
“Dispensing data shows that there has been a doubling of demand for HRT over the past two years. The treatment is now seen as an entirely standard part of managing menopause and perimenopause. Given the importance of HRT within women’s healthcare, eliminating all costs would be of significant benefit.
“This integrated approach would ensure that reproductive health needs are fully supported, offering women cost-free HRT at pharmacies as part of a holistic, accessible healthcare service.
“Our members, representing thousands of pharmacies across the country, are uniquely positioned to lead this transformation,” Ms Maher continued. “We are on the front line, seeing first-hand the challenges women face in accessing healthcare. By providing a single, cohesive service, we can make a significant impact on women’s lives, ensuring no woman has to navigate fragmented care at crucial stages of her health journey.”
The Free Contraception Scheme has already proven its value by removing financial and logistical barriers for women. Extending its framework to include HRT, the use of which has doubled in the last two years, would provide similar benefits for older women, ensuring continuity of care from age 17 through to menopause.
As Ireland enters a new era in women’s healthcare, the IPU is urging all political parties to champion this proposal in their health policies.
“This plan is a game-changer,” Ms Maher concluded. “By integrating these services, we can deliver seamless, cost-free healthcare that supports women throughout their lives. We look forward to working with the Department of Health to make this vision a reality and urge political leaders to join us in transforming women’s health.”
