Hundreds of thousands of Australian women are accessing cheaper medicines and better health care thanks to the Albanese Government's landmark women's health package.
The new figures, released in Women's Health Week, show the Albanese Government's resolve to improve women's health care.
Since announcing our women's health package earlier this year, more than 365,000 women have accessed more than 715,000 cheaper scripts for new oral contraceptives, menopausal hormone therapies and endometriosis treatment were listed on the PBS.
Before the listings of Yaz®, Yasmin® and Slinda® on the PBS, women were paying around $380 per year for their contraception, now they are paying less than half $126.40, or just $30.80 a year with a concession card.
Before the listings of Estrogel®, Prometrium® and Estrogel Pro® on the PBS, women might have paid up to $670 a year, now they are only paying $31.60 per script or $7.70 if they are concessional.
Over 20,000 women have undergone a menopause health assessment covered by Medicare since they became available on 1 July.
The Albanese Government will continue to strengthen Medicare for women, on 1 November 2025, further changes to the MBS will take effect, giving women access to affordable IUDs and birth control implants.
The Albanese Government is continuing the National Women's Health Advisory Council to provide ongoing advice on emerging priority health issues for women and girls in Australia. Assistant Minister White Chaired the first meeting of the 48th Parliament on August 14th, the communique can be found here.
Quotes attributable to Minister Gallagher:
"Labor's women's health package is delivering what women have been asking for: better access, more choice and lower costs."
"For decades, women's health was ignored. Contraceptives and menopause treatments weren't updated on the PBS, leaving women to pay hundreds out of pocket. We've changed that."
"These results show our investments are working, with hundreds of thousands of women saving money and getting better access to the care they need deserve."
"We know there's more to do, so we're improving access, training more doctors, funding specialist clinics and tackling long-standing gender bias. Women's health is central to women's equality, which is why it's at the heart of Labor's agenda."
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
"Our government made a commitment to deliver more choice, lower costs and better health care for Australian women, and we are delivering.
"It was clear the PBS wasn't working for women, with no new contraceptive pill or menopausal hormone therapy added to the PBS in decades.
"We are righting that wrong, with hundreds of thousands of women already benefitting from cheaper medicines.
"Women have asked government to take their health care seriously, and we have listened."
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister White:
"Women's health and wellbeing is a priority and this Women's Health Week is a timely reminder that women must be heard, believed and supported in our health system.
"That's why we are continuing to invest in significant efforts to address sex and gender bias in the health system, so that girls, women and gender diverse people can have better health outcomes.
"Women's Health week is about more than awareness, it's about action. We want women to feel supported, to talk to their health providers, knowing the changes we are delivering are making services more affordable and accessible."
