Reforms redraw the map for women’s health

From July 1, a funding boost for specialised gynaecological care signals a long-awaited shift, confronting the complexity of women’s health and cutting through decades of policy neglect.

This reform, part of the federal government’s $573.3 million women’s health package, is more than a pre-election promise. It’s a long-overdue structural correction. For decades, women living with chronic pelvic pain, endometriosis or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) have been squeezed into standard consultations, forced to shoulder high out-of-pocket costs, or dismissed altogether.

Now, with around 430,000 more services to be funded, the government is finally acknowledging what clinicians and advocates have long known, that gynaecological care demands longer consultations and multidisciplinary support.

“Women deserve a healthcare system that provides more choice, lower costs, and high-quality care,” said Senator Katy Gallagher, Minister for Women. That system, long missing in action, is beginning to take shape.

Senator Larissa Waters, Federal Greens Leader, spearheaded the 2023 Parliamentary Inquiry into Menopause and Perimenopause, shining a spotlight on the lack of federal policy addressing the impact on women’s health, work, and quality of life.

The changes mark a wider shift in how women’s health is prioritised. For the first time, menopause and perimenopause assessments will be available under Medicare. It’s a critical shift for the 1 in 5 Australian women who experience symptoms so disruptive they derail their daily lives, and yet are too often met with silence or stigma in clinical settings.

This move comes on the heels of long-overdue PBS listings. Earlier this year, Bayer’s Yaz and Yasmin became the first oral contraceptives listed in over 30 years. In addition, the new listings of hormone therapies from Besins Healthcare – Estrogel Pro, Estrogel, and Prometrium – marked the first in over two decades.

Specialist support is also scaling up. Australia’s network of endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics is growing from 22 to 33, with a new emphasis on menopause – filling another gaping hole in women’s healthcare infrastructure.

Dr Marilla Druitt, RANZCOG Councillor and Specialist Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, said “Women living with chronic gynaecological conditions already carry a significant physical, emotional and financial burden. These new MBS items are a step toward easing that load by reducing some of the out-of-pocket costs associated with ongoing care.

“These longer consults will allow more adequate time to deal with the highly complex nature of many gynaecological presentations – especially those associated with chronic conditions – improving access to comprehensive, patient-centred care, and better outcomes for many women.”

Another landmark change arrives on November 1. Larger Medicare rebates and expanded bulk billing for IUDs and contraceptive implants are expected to benefit up to 300,000 women, potentially saving each patient up to $400 per year.

Mark Butler, Federal Minister for Health, Ageing and NDIS, stated “You simply can’t be serious about strengthening Medicare without a serious focus on women’s health.

“Women consume about 60% of all health services in this country and they face a range of significant costs simply by virtue of being women. The Albanese Government is levelling the playing field by ensuring a modern Medicare meets the needs of women at every age and stage.”

Assistant Minister for Women, Health and Aged Care, Rebecca White, commented “The measures will ensure more timely and affordable care for women so that certain conditions can be diagnosed earlier and treated more effectively.

“Endometriosis, for example, affects 1 in 9 women and currently takes an average of seven years to diagnose. This is simply unacceptable. The new items will help to reduce that time and give women more options for treatment and pain management.”

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