What does the Programme for Government mean for women's health?

Before Christmas, a heated election took place in a battle for seats and the honour of forming a government and sitting in the Dáil, either in the ranks or on the opposition bench.

Last week, following conversations and negotiations between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Regional Independents and the Healy Raes, a draft Programme for Government was agreed and published.

This was ratified by the relevant parties in recent days.

The Programme for Government is a document that sets out the government’s priority actions over the next five years and was created over several weeks of negotiations between the parties.

It’s a lengthy 160-page document, and covers a wide range of societal issues and topics of contention, putting them on the agenda for progression as a matter of national importance.

A week after its publication, let’s look at just a few of the highlights of this publication from a health and wellbeing perspective.

A caring society

This section looks at building “a healthier future,” and this includes addressing issues in the areas of mental health, equality and inclusion, social protection and disability support.

It promises access to high quality healthcare with reduced waiting times, and minimised access costs.

To deliver on this, increased numbers of healthcare positions will be created, with incentives to keep those qualified in the country, and to increase the number of places on those courses.

Children’s health is noted in terms of promising to open the National Children’s Hospital and to address the issues within paediatric spinal surgery.

Free GP care will be extended to children up to the age of 12, and the cost of the Drug Payment Scheme will be reviewed for further reductions.

Pharmacy roles in healthcare provision will be expanded through a Common Conditions scheme, and more primary care centres will be opened.

The full digitalisation of Irish healthcare records will continue to be worked towards, with the launch of a national patient app to give much easier access to our own healthcare data.

Women’s health

Within women’s health, an area which the programme for government promises will undergo a “transformation”, there are many lofty goals included.

The highly-anticipated HRT scheme will be rolled out – importantly here, it specifies “at no cost for the drug/product”. This does not mention the cost of consultations, nor of the dispensing of the product. Time will tell to see how this plays out!

The free contraception scheme will be further expanded from its current limits, and general practice will provide a comprehensive women’s healthcare service.

Additional focuses are on opening the new National Maternity Hospital, investing in endometriosis care, and equitable access to termination of pregnancy across the maternity hospitals.

Very welcome is the mention of free period products being available in more places, extended eligibility to state-funded IVF, and free pelvic floor examinations after childbirth will be made available.

Additional breastfeeding supports are promised, and improved maternity hospital structure to improve spaces available after a loss, and to create a new mother and baby in-patient mental health unit.

There is also a commitment to double the number of multi-disciplinary teams available in pregnancy.

Work and family support

Some of the highlights here include examining the extension of Parents Leave and benefit, as well as additional flexibilities, to progressively increase the child support payment, and explore the potential of a targeted Child Benefit scheme, while seeing the effect this would have on child poverty.

They will promote remote working arrangements and support with appropriate broadband infrastructure.

They have also specified their intention to progressively reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per child per month, and mention reducing the administrative burden of this scheme for providers.

This is warranted, as many families currently do not benefit from any childcare subsidy, due to the scheme not being registered for by the provider – for this very reason of prohibitive administrative overload.

The document is a very interesting read, one that I would encourage you to download and look through.

The above are just a few of the many items on the agenda for the coming term of government.

While of course it’s aspirational, it feels good to look forward with hope for the future and what might be achieved, and to see some of what women and their families could potentially benefit from.

How much of all of this gets realised is for another day – for now, it’s positive to see some of this on the ‘to-do’ list.

The first step on the long road has been taken!

While of course it’s aspirational, it feels good to look forward with hope for the future and what might be achieved.