Australian women are set to receive improved healthcare options, affordability, and additional choices, thanks to a $573 million investment from the Federal Government. This funding aims to enhance women’s health services, introducing new subsidies for reproductive health treatments and including new oral contraceptives like Yaz and Yasmin on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). These medications, utilised by around 50,000 women, usually cost approximately $380 annually.
Additionally, the announcement features new Medicare rebates for menopause assessments by general practitioners, alongside the development of comprehensive guidelines on menopause. For the first time in two decades, menopause hormone therapies such as Estrogel Pro and Prometrium will also be accessible through the PBS starting March 1, benefiting over 100,000 women currently paying for these treatments out of pocket.
The package will further enhance rebates for intrauterine devices (IUDs) and birth control implants. Health organisations, including the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), have expressed support for this initiative. RACGP President Dr Michael Wright praised the Albanese Government’s focus on women’s health, noting the significant impact of cost pressures on women’s ability to access necessary healthcare.