A scheme is to be established to provide compensation to women affected by the malpractice at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.
Following a meeting yesterday with Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney, Patient Focus, representing women who had their wombs or other body parts unnecessarily removed between 1974 and 1998, was assured that the scheme will be put in place swiftly.
Up to 250 women are expected to be compensated.
Unusually, the State is not expected to foot the whole bill after Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the taxpayer should not always be called on to do so.
"In relation to compensation, yes it is an issue that the Government will address. But the hospital is insured, the doctor is insured. We have to make sure, in whatever arrangements are made, that it is not the taxpayer that picks up everything," he said.
The plight of the women involved was highlighted on Tuesday when a damning report into practices at the hospital was published.
It found an abnormally high number of hysterectomies was carried out there. A total of 188 peripartum hysterectomies (within six weeks of delivering a baby) were carried out at the hospital's maternity unit between 1974 and 1998. Of those, 129 were carried out by one doctor, Dr Michael Neary, who has since been struck off the medical register.