The Australian government has announced new funding to make key women’s health treatments more affordable, including a contraceptive pill, a groundbreaking endometriosis drug, and an IVF medication. These changes aim to reduce the financial burden on women by listing these treatments under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
The recent funding represents a significant shift in policy that seeks to address long-standing issues in women’s healthcare. Starting May 1, drugs such as Slinda and Ryeqo, alongside Pergoveris for IVF treatments, will be subsidised, providing women with easier access to essential medications that were previously costly.
Affordable Access to Essential Treatments
The addition of Slinda, a progestogen-only contraceptive pill, to the PBS is expected to benefit over 100,000 women annually. Without government funding, the annual cost of this pill could exceed $250, making it unaffordable for many.
According to Health Minister Mark Butler, this subsidy will help women “catch up on decades of inaction and neglect” in healthcare provisions, particularly in areas such as reproductive health. The Ryeqo drug, a new pain treatment for endometriosis, will also be listed, reducing the cost of this treatment from up to $2,700 a year to a more manageable rate.
The addition of these medications to the PBS follows years of advocacy for better access to affordable treatments for conditions affecting many women, including endometriosis. One in seven Australian women is affected by this condition, which can cause significant pain and, in some cases, infertility.
The announcement signals a crucial step in making necessary healthcare more accessible to those who need it most.
Enhanced Access to IVF Treatments
The government also plans to improve access to Pergoveris, a medication used in IVF treatment. From April 1, women will be able to access Pergoveris through the PBS earlier in their IVF cycles, with the number of treatment pens per script increased from two to four.
This change means that women who need four pens to complete their IVF cycle will only have to pay once, a notable reduction from the previous out-of-pocket costs that could exceed $3,500 without the PBS subsidy.
Minister Butler explained that these changes aim to ease the financial burden on women undergoing IVF, ensuring they can access the necessary treatments without the heavy costs.
Addressing Women’s Health Inequalities
Minister Butler has emphasized the government’s commitment to improving options for women’s health, noting that many of these measures are long overdue. The inclusion of Slinda, Ryeqo, and Pergoveris on the PBS reflects a broader effort to reduce the lifetime costs associated with essential health treatments.
While critics like Shadow Minister for Health Anne Ruston have argued that the changes should have come sooner, the funding package is a substantial step in addressing the historic neglect of women’s health services in Australia.
