Concern that bigger pharmacy chains will not implement Government's free HRT scheme 

Boots Ireland welcomed the plan as 'an important step forward for women’s health', but added that the 'announcement was made without prior agreement with the pharmacy sector.' Picture:  Matt Crossick/PA 

There are fears that major high street pharmacists may not implement the Government's free HRT scheme for women when it is due to come into effect on June 1.

Boots Ireland welcomed the plan as “an important step forward for women’s health”, saying it is “one we fully support in principle”.

However, it added: “This announcement was made without prior agreement with the pharmacy sector.” 

"We support the Irish Pharmacy Union as it works with Government to find a solution ahead of June 1." 

The union has already described the plan announced by health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill on Monday as “not viable”.

McCabes Pharmacy Group, which merged with Lloyds, also declined to commit, only saying: “We aren’t commenting on this at the moment.” 

Former Fine Gael TD and owner of Rathgar Pharmacy Kate O'Connell pointed to the Budget 2025 announcement as the core of the problem. She said: 

In fairness to the minister she got handed a very poorly-thought out policy, a policy I’d argue was just decided as a vote-getting mechanism without the proper infrastructure in place.

When the plan was first announced in October it did not cover dispensing fees, but now it does.

Ms O’Connell said of the revised plan: “Pharmacists as a collective aren’t happy with the offer.” 

Community pharmacist Sheena Mitchell said they are being “scapegoated” for problems rolling out the scheme.

“I think the minister is trying to push us into it, I certainly won’t be pushed into it. There’s an attempt to bypass our union,” she said.