Women are continuing to pay up to €70 for their monthly hormone replacement therapy prescriptions - despite being told it would be free from the beginning of this month.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a medicines-based treatment that relieves the symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings.

The free HRT scheme was included in this year’s budget, with the State promising to fund the cost of medicines, patches and other devices such as coils.

Funding does not cover appointment costs and unlicensed medications, which pharmacists had previously flagged as an issue.

Owner of Milltown Total Health Pharmacy Sheena Mitchell told Newstalk Breakfast that IT problems are causing further complications.

“The system it’s most like - and [that] would have made most sense - would have been the free contraception scheme, which is working really, really well for patients,” she said.

“I know the Irish Pharmacy Union have looked for an integrated women’s health system that would ensure that people getting HRT would get the same care as people getting any form of contraception.

“So, with the free contraception scheme, that’s actually a separate IT program that we have to use, and so with that [type of system, the HRT scheme] would make sense.

“The problem there is, the HSE are covering pharmacy fees for contraception, but not for HRT.

“It means that the system isn’t usable – we have to separately charge the patient the fee.”

An already open HRT, Hormone Therapy Replacement pills in dispenser for perimenopause treatment. Image by Alamy.

According to Ms Mitchell, there are over 300 medicines unavailable in Ireland at the moment, which means pharmacies cannot access or reimburse themselves for patient prescriptions for these products either.

“This is not a menopause unique situation, but with menopause products, we’ve had various ones that have been in and out of stock,” she said.

“Most commonly, the HRT patch – the oestrogen patch – has been unavailable, and we’ve had to get unlicensed versions – which are absolutely safe, they’re absolutely equivalent."

However, these unlicensed versions cost the patients more, as pharmacies cannot be reimbursed under the scheme.

Unfair

Ms Mitchell said it is unfair to promise a free HRT scheme that does not provide free HRT.

“I’m not prepared to let the Government turn around and say we’re going to have free HRT publicly and then deliver HRT at €20 a month when the stock is available, or €50 to €80 a month when it’s not,” she said.

The Department of Health said in a statement that it is engaging with the HSE and the Irish Pharmacy Union on the practical implementation of the Health Insurance and Health (Provision of Menopause Products) Bill 2024.

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Featured image: A woman applies an oestrogen patch. Image: Phanie / Alamy Stock Photo