On Tuesday’s Morning Focus, Alan was joined by Orla Meaney, who is a Hyperemesis Gravidarum(HG)sufferer from Kilnaboy. Orla spoke about her experience of suffering with HG which is severe vomiting during pregnancy that can last for up to 9 months.
Calls have been made by Orla and many women impacted by Hyperemesis Gravidarum or HG –for the State to reimburse Cariban, which, over the course of a pregnancy, can cost up to €3,000.
Cariban was previously unavailable on the drugs payment scheme or medical card, but €1 million in funding to facilitate reimbursement of it was included in the €32.2 million women’s health budget for 2023. Cariban will be fully reimbursed when prescribed by a consultant obstetrician for the treatment of Nausea and Vomiting during Pregnancy (NVP)
However, it seems the rollout of the scheme is being held up by red tape, despite promises it would be operational from the start of January.
You can listen to the full interview below.