WOMEN will pay less than £20 per year for menopause hormone replacement therapy under new prescription rules.
From April 1 patients can buy an £18.70 annual pass for HRT in a win for The Sun’s Fabulous Menopause Matters campaign, which called for the change in 2021.
Around 400,000 women will benefit and save hundreds of pounds per year on their scripts.
HRT helps battle the symptoms of menopause such as hot flushes, mood swings and trouble in the bedroom.
Women’s Health Ambassador for the Government, Dame Lesley Regan, said: “Making HRT more affordable will have a huge impact on the lives of so many women.
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“This pre-payment certificate is a major step forward in prioritising the health and wellbeing of women.”
Women will be able to apply for the certificate online or at a pharmacy.
The one-off payment entitles them to unlimited HRT prescriptions issued by their doctor.
A drive to boost access to HRT last year saw the first therapies available over the counter without prescription.
Campaigners still want ministers to go even further and make prescriptions free.
Thorrun Govind, chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said: "This is good news for women but if the Government truly wanted to tackle health inequalities it would scrap the prescription charge completely."
Our Fabulous Menopause Matters campaign has also called for women to get better support at work.
Ministers faced a push to improve conditions for women living through "the change" last year.
The Government appointed a HRT tsar and published a Women's Health Strategy when stocks of the vital medicines ran dry at pharmacies across the country.
Women's Minister Maria Caulfield said: "Reducing the cost of HRT is a huge moment for improving women’s health in this country.
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"I am proud to be announcing this momentous step forward.
“In our Women’s Health Strategy, we made menopause a top priority – by making HRT more accessible, we’re delivering on our commitment to women."