No Applications To Make Prescription Vaginal Creams Over-The-Counter Despite Demand

An issue affecting thousands of women but rarely talked about openly – access to vaginal oestrogen treatments. At Clare County Council’s December meeting, Ennis Mayor and Fine Gael councillor Mary Howard brought a motion calling on the Minister for Health to allow vaginal oestrogen gels and creams to be available over the counter, as they are in other countries. The Department of Health has since replied, saying these products remain prescription-only unless manufacturers apply to have them reclassified by the HPRA – something that hasn’t happened to date. To discuss why this matters, the impact on women’s health, and what needs to change, Alan Morrissey was joined by Mary Howard, Mayor of Ennis, and Dr Máire Finn, Ennis GP and female health specialist.