As part of a plan to lower prescription expenses, hundreds of thousands of women might gain access to menopausal treatments at a lower cost.
The Department of Health reports that beginning on April 1, women who have been prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to deal with the menopause would have access to a year’s worth of medication for less than £20.
With the new program, up to 400,000 women in England will be able to pay once for a full year of hormone replacement therapy, saving them hundreds of pounds annually.
Women can apply the certificate toward a list of prescribed HRT products under the terms of the plan.
There is no restriction on how often the pre-payment certificate may be used while it is still in effect, and access to patches, tablets, and topical medicines is available.
The NHS Business Services Authority or a pharmacy that is authorized to offer the certificates will be the places where women can apply for the pre-payment certificate.
The statement comes in response to last summer’s release of the government’s women’s health strategy for England.
Minister for Women Maria Caulfield said: “Around three-quarters of women will experience menopause symptoms, with one-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.”
Around 15% of women aged 45-64 in England are currently prescribed HRT, according to the Department of Health.
The Department of Health said that it engages with suppliers on a weekly basis and closely monitors the supply of HRT.
