Rose Conway-Walsh urges review of €600 HPV vaccine exclusion

Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Taoiseach why the HPV vaccine is excluded from the drugs payment scheme and urged a review so high-risk women can access the vaccine without financial hardship. She highlighted that the vaccine costs €600, said low medical card thresholds leave many under severe financial pressure, and warned this risks repeating failures from the cervical screening scandal.

Issue raised

Rose Conway-Walsh said women advised by consultants or medical practitioners to get the HPV vaccine are not covered because the vaccine is excluded from the drugs payment scheme, creating a direct cost for patients.

Financial impact on women

She noted the vaccine costs €600 and argued that many families and women who do not qualify for a medical card due to low thresholds are under severe financial pressure; paying for the vaccine could push them into further stress.

Reference to cervical screening scandal

She said forcing women to pay for a necessary medical intervention 'demonstrates to me that we have not learned from the cervical screening scandal and we are not listening to women.'

Request to the Taoiseach

She asked the Taoiseach to ask the Minister to review the exclusion of the HPV vaccine from the drugs payment scheme and to liaise with NIAC to ensure women deemed high risk can receive it without financial hardship.

Taoiseach's response

The Taoiseach thanked the Deputy for raising the issue and said he would engage with the Minister and NIAC, examine the matter raised, and revert back.