Ireland's healthcare system is a mix of public provision (the HSE) and private fees. If you are an expat or EU citizen moving to Ireland, the system can seem contradictory: a simple visit to a GP will cost you €60, but world-class HIV care and STI testing are entirely free.

🛡️ Public STI Clinics Are Free for Everyone

Unlike general healthcare, sexual health is treated as a public health priority.

You do not need a PPSN, medical card, or private health insurance to access public STI clinics. Clinics like the GMHS (Gay Men's Health Service) and the GUIDE Clinic in Dublin are 100% free of charge. You will not be billed for testing, treatment of STIs, or emergency PEP. They will see tourists, students, and undocumented individuals without charging.

💳 General HSE Registration and the PPSN

Unlike some countries, you do not "register" for the HSE system as a whole. Eligibility is based on being "ordinarily resident" (living in Ireland for at least a year or intending to).

  • EU/EEA Citizens: Are entitled to healthcare on the same basis as Irish citizens once ordinarily resident. Temporary visitors can use their EHIC.
  • Non-EU Citizens: Can access public health services once ordinarily resident. However, depending on your visa or residence permit, you may be required to maintain private health insurance as a condition of your stay.

While public STI clinic visits are free for everyone without any paperwork, getting free PrEP medication dispensed at a pharmacy requires you to be formally registered with a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN).

  1. The PPSN: You apply for a PPSN through the Department of Social Protection (often when starting a job). It links your identity to the health system.
  2. The DPS Card: To get your PrEP for free at a pharmacy, the clinic will help you apply for the HSE PrEP scheme. The pharmacy processes it using the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) or a Medical Card.
  3. The Gap: If you have just arrived and do not yet have a PPSN, you can still be prescribed PrEP, but you may have to pay for the medication out of pocket (about €50–€80 a month) until your PPSN is issued.

National Health Hotline: Ireland does not have a clinical non-emergency hotline like NHS 111. For non-emergency medical care, contact a General Practitioner (GP) or a local GP out-of-hours service. HSE Live (1800 700 700) provides general health service information but not medical advice. In a medical emergency, dial 112 or 999.

💶 The EHIC Limit

If you are an EU citizen, your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers emergency care (like an A&E visit for PEP). However, because routine STI care is already free to everyone in Ireland, your EHIC is mostly irrelevant for sexual health clinics. Your EHIC will not allow you to get free PrEP at a pharmacy—that requires entering the HSE PrEP program.

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