Greens support free HRT treatment for women in menopause

The Green Party supports providing Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT) for free to women going through menopause. This follows a motion from Senator Pauline O’Reilly calling on the Government to assist women going through menopause.

Senator O’Reilly said:

“This significant step promises to improve the quality of life for countless women experiencing the challenging experience of menopause. We need to support women with more accessible healthcare, and address gender-specific health issues proactively.

“Most women need HRT for 2 to 5 years, meaning these bills can really add up. 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 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.

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.