Dame Caroline Dinenage, Member of Parliament for Gosport, has welcomed the news that Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) will be made cheaper through the introduction of a new HRT prescription Pre-Payment Certificate (PPC) in England.
From April 1, holders of the HRT Pre-Payment Certificate will have the cost of HRT for a year reduced to £18.70. For those with existing exemptions, HRT will remain free.
This will benefit around 400,000 women across England who are currently prescribed HRT.
This delivers on a significant pledge of the Women’s Health Strategy, which pledged to reduce the financial burden of HRT.
As a former Minister of State at the Department of Health & Social Care between January 2018 and February 2020, Caroline started the Women’s Health Strategy which includes other measures such as encouraging the expansion of Women’s Health Hubs around the country, introducing pregnancy loss certificates, improving access to IVF treatment for female same-sex couples, and ensuring all doctors are trained to provide the best care for women.
Since returning to the backbenches, Caroline has continued campaigning for a robust Women’s Health Strategy.
Speaking on the announcement, Caroline said:
“I warmly welcome this development, delivering on a key pledge of the Women’s Health Strategy.
“It is vital that we support women through the menopause and reducing the financial burden of Hormone Replacement Therapy is a significant step forward.
“As a former Minister of State at DHSC, I kicked off the Women’s Health Strategy, I am delighted to see a cornerstone of it delivered today, supporting women up and down the country.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:
“This new certificate will make HRT more accessible than ever before – helping around 400,000 women save hundreds of pounds a year.
“This is another step in our drive to improve support for millions of women experiencing the menopause, delivering on our Women’s Health Strategy.”
Minister for Women Maria Caufield said:
“Around three quarters of women will experience menopause symptoms, with a quarter experiencing severe symptoms – which can seriously impact their quality of life.
“Reducing the cost of HRT is a huge moment for improving women’s health in this country, and I am proud to be announcing this momentous step forward.
“In our Women’s Health Strategy, we made menopause a top priority – by making HRT more accessible, we’re delivering on our commitment to women.”
Women’s Health Ambassador, Dame Lesley Regan, said:
“The menopause is an inevitable stage in a woman’s life course. As a gynaecologist I’ve witnessed first-hand the symptoms that women experience which can have debilitating impacts on their daily lives.
“Making HRT more affordable will have a hugely beneficial impact on the lives of so many women. This pre-payment certificate is a major step forward in prioritising the health and wellbeing of women.”
