The Green Party has called for free Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to be offered to women who are experiencing menopause.
In a statement today, Green Party Senator Pauline O’Reilly called on the government to assist women in the latter stages of life.
“This significant step promises to improve the quality of life for countless women experiencing the challenging experience of menopause,” she said.
“We need to support women with more accessible healthcare, and address gender-specific health issues proactively.”
O’Reilly highlighted the fact that bills for HRT can be expensive.
“Most women need HRT for 2 to 5 years, meaning these bills can really add up,” she said.
“No woman should be forced to stop treatment due to financial pressures. That’s why the Greens have been pushing to provide HRT free of charge to all women who need it. It’s a brilliant step forward that the State will now cover the cost of prescriptions.”
Plans to provide HRT free of charge are currently being finalised by the government, with a scheme to be unveiled “in the coming weeks.”
“This announcement marks a progressive step towards a more inclusive and supportive healthcare system, one that recognises and addresses the specific needs of women,” the Green Party said in a statement.
“Hormone Replacement Therapy is a recognised treatment for many of the associated symptoms of menopause, notably for vasomotor (hot flushes, night sweats), cardiometabolic (insulin resistance, hypertension, diabetes) issues, osteological disease (osteoporosis, osteoarthritis) and mood changes or indicators of depression and anxiety.”
Notably, as previously covered by Gript, the Irish Department of Health’s menopause campaign describes “woman” as meaning “all those who identify as women,” and also many people who “do not identify as women.”
“It is intended in the most inclusive sense of the word”: The Irish Department of Health’s menopause campaign describes “woman” as meaning “all those who identify as women,” and also many people who “do not identify as women.”https://t.co/l4LDrAAEKn
— gript (@griptmedia) March 4, 2024
“When this website refers to ‘women,’ it is meant in the broadest and most inclusive sense,” the Department states.
“It serves as a shorthand to describe all those who identify as women, as well as those who do not identify as women but share women’s biological realities and experiences.”
They further note: “Our use of this term is intended to include, not exclude.”