with Susan Templeman MP

For a long time , women and girls have faced too many barriers to accessing appropriate healthcare . Whether through delayed diagnosis , the over or under prescribing of medication , or flat-out dismissal of their pain , women across Australia often suffer poorer health outcomes .

But now there ’ s more than words to help women experiencing a challenging menopause , with the Albanese Government taking action that will benefit older women in the Hawkesbury .

We ’ re making women ’ s health care cheaper and easier to access .

Let ’ s start with younger women . From 1 March , women using two of the most popular contraceptives will pay less for their scripts . In a bid to reduce the costs of healthcare for women , Yaz ® and Yasmin ® contraceptives will be listed on the PBS .

It ’ s the first time in more than 30 years that a new contraceptive pill has been listed , and it will save women aged 18-39 hundreds of dollars a year .

Women who use IUDs or birth control implants are also expected to save up to $ 400 in out-of-pocket costs with an increase in the Medicare rebates .

And many more women will benefit

from the $ 100 million to support two national trials to make it cheaper and easier to get treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections and over-thecounter contraceptives .

Just as we ’ ve invested more than $ 127 million to support women with endometriosis , including boosting Medicare rebates for specialist gynaecological care and listing the first endometriosis medicine on the PBS in 30 years , we ’ re giving the same kind of support to women going through menopause .

From 1 March , it will be cheaper for women to access three popular menopausal therapies ( Estrogel ®, Prometrium ® and EstrogelR Pro ®) and the PBS listing will help to secure supply and end the shortage of these important estrogen and progesterone treatments . Like the cost reductions for the new contraceptive pills , these changes are the result of a request by the Minister for Health and Aged Care to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee to consider how to extend PBS benefits to these areas .

Around 150,000 women each year are expected to benefit , who otherwise might pay up to $ 670 a year , but will now pay a maximum of $ 31.60 a month or just $ 7.70

with a concession card , saving between $ 290-577 a year .

One in five Australian women will have menopausal symptoms severe enough to interfere with their daily life , which is why this package of additional support is long overdue .

Women in the Hawkesbury dealing with difficult peri-menopause symptoms will also benefit from changes to the Rouse Hill Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinic , which will be expanded to support them .

Hawkesbury GPs will be able to access a new Medicare rebate for menopause

health assessments , from 1 July , so they can provide the care that ’ s needed .

We ’ re providing funding for health professionals to do additional training in menopause and perimenopause , we ’ ll develop the first-ever national clinical guidelines , and a national awareness campaign will help women have informed discussions with their doctor .

I am so proud of this $ 500 million investment and these practical changes . Yes , they save women money . But they also elevate women ’ s health issues so we increase the likelihood that women and girls get better healthcare