The long overdue publication of the new National Sexual Health Strategy 2025-2035, while welcome, contains some glaring gaps that the Minister must address, according to Social Democrats TD P\u00e1draig Rice.<\/p>\n
Deputy Rice, who is the party\u2019s spokesperson on health, said:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe last strategy, which covered 2015-2020, was understandably extended until the end of 2022 as a result of Covid-19. However, there can be no excuse for the further three-year delay in publishing a new strategy. Clearly, it was not a priority.<\/p>\n
\u201cNonetheless, the new strategy includes many positive commitments, such as developing an action plan to eliminate new HIV transmissions by 2030; widening access to free sexual healthcare in primary care; a new model of care for sexual health; and expanding eligibility for free contraception.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, these measures are not matched by funding commitments, nor timelines for delivery. Instead, we got vague commitments to \u2018strive towards\u2019, \u2018explore\u2019 and \u2018widen access\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 2025, we still have 10 counties with no public sexual health clinics \u2013 Cavan, Kildare, Kilkenny, Leitrim, Longford, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon and Wicklow. And this strategy is the best the Minister could do?<\/p>\n
\u201cOne would have to wonder how it took the Department of Health three years to develop such an abstract plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe new strategy repeatedly states that its vague commitments are \u2018in line with the principles of Sl\u00e1intecare\u2019, and that is true. But Sl\u00e1intecare is not just a convenient brand for the Minister to reference when it suits \u2013 it\u2019s about real reform, and we need to see Sl\u00e1intecare in action, not just in theory.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe success of the free home STI testing service \u2013 following a successful Sl\u00e1intecare Integration Fund pilot in 2021 \u2013 is a key example of Sl\u00e1intecare in action. Yet we learned at today\u2019s Health Committee that funding to the Sl\u00e1intecare Integration Innovation Fund \u2013 a ringfenced multi-annual fund supporting Sl\u00e1intecare projects \u2013 reduced by 30.5 per cent this year.<\/p>\n
“I accept that many of these projects have now been mainstreamed into core HSE allocations, but we are nowhere near full implementation of Sl\u00e1intecare. Surely we should be progressing more innovative pilot projects, not less.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn terms of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), we still have almost 900 people on a waiting list for public services, with some waiting over a year. The new strategy states that expanding equitable capacity for PrEP is a priority, but exactly how will it be prioritised? The significant capacity issues in public PrEP services have been known for years \u2013 this is not a new problem.<\/p>\n
\u201cFinally, it is frankly unforgiveable that this new strategy is so silent on trans healthcare. There are, at best, only passing references to transgender people but no commitment on a new model of care.<\/p>\n
\u201cA new trans healthcare model is desperately needed \u2013 one which is in line with WHO guidance, under an informed consent model, and delivered in the community. This new strategy does not inspire much confidence that this will be delivered anytime soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
June 25, 2025<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The long overdue publication of the new National Sexual Health Strategy 2025-2035, while welcome, contains some glaring gaps that the Minister must address, according to Social Democrats TD P\u00e1draig Rice. Deputy Rice, who is the party\u2019s spokesperson on health, said: \u201cThe last strategy, which covered 2015-2020, was understandably extended until the end of 2022 as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":12553,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,642,7,691],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12831","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","category-padraig-rice","category-press-release","category-slaintecare"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n