Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is planning to expand his free contraception scheme to more women and allow them collect the pill from pharmacies without a prescription from a GP. Free contraception was introduced despite a State-commissioned report saying it would be a waste of public money. One rationale for it is that making contraception free would reduce the number of abortions which has instead been rising fast.
Mr Donnelly will expand the free contraception scheme to all women aged 35 and under during the summer.
Giving the pharmacies the responsibility for prescribing the pill will come at a later date and a doctor’s prescription will still be required until that happens. However, GP visit fees are covered by the State under the scheme.
Mr Donnelly is expected to flag the expansion of the scheme at this weekend’s Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis but the measure is also contained in a new Women’s Health Action Plan that is set to be launched next week.
The minister introduced his free contraception scheme in September 2022 to women aged 15-25 and has extended eligibility in a number of phases since.
