Women’s Health Matters

Getting healthcare based on you Medicare Card, not your credit card, is fundamental for Labor Governments. That’s why we’re boosting Medicare rebates and training more GPs.

For women and girls, there have been extra barriers to accessing appropriate healthcare. Whether through delayed diagnosis, the over or under prescribing of medication, or flat-out dismissal of their pain, women across Australia often suffer poorer health outcomes.

But now there’s more than words to help women of all ages including with their contraceptive and menopause needs get cheaper and better healthcare.

From 1 March, it will be cheaper for women to access three popular menopausal therapies, and women will also be able to access new subsidised oral contraceptives on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. This is the first new listing for menopausal therapies in 20 years, and the first new oral contraceptive pills on the PBS in more than 30 years. Well overdue!

Women who use IUDs or birth control implants will also save up to $400 in out-of-pocket costs with an increase in the Medicare rebates.

The specialist Rouse Hill Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinic Women which I advocated for, will be expanded to help women dealing with difficult peri-menopause symptoms.

One in five Australian women will have menopausal symptoms severe enough to interfere with their daily life, which is why this package of additional support is long overdue.

And many more women will benefit from the $100 million to support two national trials to make it cheaper and easier to get treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections and over-the-counter contraceptives.

I am so proud of these practical changes. Yes, they save women money. But they also elevate women’s health issues, so we increase the likelihood that women and girls have better health.