Menopause: Health Services
(asked on 14th November 2022) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) reduce variations in access to menopause treatment and (b) ensure that women get equal access to the treatments they need.
Answered by
Maria Caulfield
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The NHS National Menopause Care Improvement Programme aims to improve clinical menopause care in England and reduce disparities in access to treatment. The National Health Service is also developing an education and training package on menopause for healthcare professionals.
We are planning to introduce a pre-payment certificate (PPC) for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) from April 2023. The PPC will enable women to access as many NHS prescriptions for HRT medicines licensed for treatment of the menopause as needed for an annual cost of two single item prescription charges.
We are also working with suppliers to expedite resupply dates of HRT products and secure additional stock via Serious Shortage Protocols and we have allowed alternative products to be dispensed. We are also working with the pharmaceutical industry to increase capacity to meet demand.