IRELAND: Free "contraceptive scheme" for women between the ages of 17 and 25 has been launched today

editor September 14, 2022 0

Today marks the beginning of a free contraception programme for females between the ages of 17 and 25.

The measure received bipartisan support during its passage through the Dáil and Seanad, and President Michael D. Higgins signed it into law in July of this year.

The Health (Other Provisions) (No. 2) Act 2022 also eliminates daytime and overnight in-patient public fees for patients under the age of 16 in all public hospitals.

The scheme covers the full cost of prescription contraception, including the cost of:

The free contraception scheme will fund access to contraception for women aged 17–25 by providing:
the cost of prescription contraception
the cost of consultations with GPs and other relevant medical professionals to discuss contraceptive options with eligible patients and to provide prescriptions for these
the cost of fitting and/or removal of various types of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) plus any necessary checks, by medical professionals certified to fit/remove LARCs (for example, intrauterine devices (IUD), systems (IUS), coils and implants)
the cost of providing the wide range of contraceptive options currently available to GMS (medical) card holders, which will also be available through this scheme, including contraceptive injections, implants, IUS and IUDs, the contraceptive patch and ring, and various forms of oral contraceptive pill, including emergency contraception
the cost of training and certifying additional GPs and other medical professionals to fit and remove LARCs

Women will be eligible for free contraception under the scheme from their 17th birthday until the day before their 26th birthday. Women who have had coils, IUDs, IUSs or implants inserted under the scheme will remain eligible for checks and free removal of any devices inserted before their 26th birthday, to ensure their continuity of care.

Press release : Minister for Health launches free contraception scheme for women aged 17–25

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said the Act was a "cost-effective measure, reducing both crisis pregnancy and termination rates" after it was passed into law in July.

"Access to free contraception was a crucial recommendation preceding the Repeal of the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution and is a key aspect of the Women's Health Action Plan," said Donnelly in a statement.

The programme, a crucial promise of the Programme for Government, places women between the ages of 17 and 25 at the centre of it by giving them a complete range of options so they can select the method of contraception that best suits them, he said.

We are eliminating any financial obstacles for the age group for which they are most likely to be a problem.

First move
The National Women's Council says it is "crucial" that the age range be increased even if it has welcomed the start of the free contraceptive programme for women between the ages of 17 and 25.

The Women's Health Coordinator for NWC, Alana Ryan, described it as a "ground-breaking milestone" with "transformative potential" and the "path to gender equality."

As women gain control over their reproductive life and decisions, she predicted that the advantages of free contraception will be felt throughout society.
"Some women are sexually active before the age of 17, and well after the age of 25," she continued.

Therefore, it is imperative that the government expand the age range in the budget at the end of the month to complement this wonderful initial move.
She also urged the government to "adopt a holistic approach of reproductive health" and said that "access to contraception is vital for preventing a crisis pregnancy."

In order to lower the likelihood of unintended pregnancies, Ryan added, we must guarantee that all women have access to the most trustworthy and efficient methods of contraception.
"Government must now maintain the momentum and include the subsequent age cohort in the budget."

🔰: IRELAND: "Ganpati Bappa Morya.. Happy Ganesh Chaturthi to all", from the Bihar Jharkhand Association of Ireland (BJAI) Community.

🔰: NI: British King Charles III will visit Northern Ireland today, with the President of Ireland, Taoiseach, and the Foreign Minister as guests.

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