HSE to splash out on 500k condoms

The HSE is splashing out on the purchase of 500,000 condoms as part of the executive’s National Condom Project.

The HSE yesterday confirmed British firm LTC Healthcare secured the contract but was remaining tight-lipped last night about the cost of the tender.

LTC Healthcare is one of the UK’s largest sexual healthcare companies.

As part of the deal, LTC is to supply 500,000 branded condom packets to the HSE’s Crisis Pregnancy Programme including regular condoms and 200,000 sachets of water-based and paraben free lubricant.

As part of the work, LTC Healthcare is to design a HSE-branded condom packet and a water-based and paraben free lubrication sachet.

The deadline for the work is tight with the HSE demanding the condoms be ready to be transported to a central holding facility, based in Waterford, by September 25.

According to the tender documentation, the outputs from the NCP will support the establishment of a central distribution stream for condoms to statutory agencies/bodies and NGOs through www.healthpromotion.ie.

The tender states that the NCP will also support existing condom outreach programmes which are an integral component of the HSE Crisis Pregnancy Programme’s national work.

A spokeswoman for the HSE said the executive would not be disclosing the cost of the project.