The Albanese Labor Government has announced a significant investment of over $160 million in a targeted women’s health package aimed at addressing gender bias within the healthcare system, enhancing the skills of medical professionals, and improving sexual and reproductive care. This initiative, outlined in the 2024-25 Budget, encompasses various measures designed to empower women and ensure equitable access to quality healthcare services.
Key provisions of the package include:
Training and Scholarships: Allocation of $5.2 million for scholarships and travel expenses to facilitate training for healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and midwives, in the insertion and removal of Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC).
Online Contraception Decision Tool: An investment of $1.1 million to develop an online contraception decision-making tool for both women and healthcare practitioners, facilitating informed choices regarding contraception methods.
National Sexual and Reproductive Health Dataset: Provision of $5.5 million to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare for the development of a comprehensive national sexual and reproductive health dataset. This dataset aims to identify evolving healthcare needs of women across different life stages, address equity in care, and identify groups requiring additional support.
Permanent Telehealth Items: Making temporary Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) telehealth items for blood borne viruses and sexual and reproductive health permanent. This move aims to enhance access to care, particularly for women residing in regional and remote areas.
Gender Audit of MBS: Undertaking a gender audit of the MBS as part of the Continuous Medicare review, with a specific focus on items related to LARC insertion and removal and gender-based disparities in diagnostic imaging MBS items.
Expanded Medicare Services: Authorization for nurse practitioners to refer women for ultrasound services under Medicare, supporting the requirements of the MS-2 Step medical abortion program.
Healthcare Access for Culturally Diverse Communities: Allocation of $5.6 million to the Health in My Language program to facilitate access to sexual and reproductive healthcare for culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Menopause Training: Investment of $1.2 million to enable more healthcare professionals to access training on menopause, ensuring better treatment for women undergoing this life stage transition.
These initiatives align with the objectives of the National Women’s Health Strategy and recommendations from the Senate inquiry into universal access to reproductive healthcare. Furthermore, they complement the Government’s Gender Equality Strategy, reflecting a commitment to addressing gender bias and promoting women’s health rights.
Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Ged Kearney MP, emphasized the importance of these reforms in combating gender bias within the healthcare system and ensuring that women have access to comprehensive and respectful care. She expressed gratitude to women who have shared their experiences, highlighting the significance of collective efforts in addressing systemic challenges in women’s health.
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