Labor subsidises endometriosis treatments, IVF, birth control in election spend

Women will have access to cheaper birth control, IVF and endometriosis treatments by May, with new entries to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Health Minister Mark Butler said he had pushed for the PBAC to consider rubberstamping relevant medications.

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Women will have access to cheaper birth control, IVF and endometriosis treatments by May, with new entries to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme saving up to thousands of dollars per patient.

The changes are part of the Albanese government’s second tranche of pre-election health funding for women, announced on Sunday to bipartisan support, with the discounts to three treatments set to take effect in April or May.

“This is about three decades of neglect,” Anthony Albanese told Channel 9.

“Australian women have been telling us over the last couple of years that they weren’t getting enough support for things that all women experience; their contraceptive choices, reproductive health, going through peri-menopause and menopause, and dealing with conditions like endometriosis that affect as many as one in seven women.

“We’ve done more in the last five months for women’s health in these areas than any government has done for decades.”

The contraceptive called Slinda is the third new birth control to be subsidised under Labor; it uses a progesterone base, assisting women who cannot take oestrogen-based medications.

A four-month supply will be available from May 1 at $7.70 for concession card holders and $31.60 for the remaining users, down from $80 for a three-month prescription.

Opposition health spokesperson Anne Ruston criticised delays to the subsidies announced. Picture: Martin Ollman

On May 1, both Slinda and endometriosis treatment Ryeqo will be subsidised. Ryeqo’s price will fall from $2700 to a cost of $92-$380 annually, providing pain relief and reducing symptoms.

The IVF combination therapy Pergoveris will be thousands of dollars cheaper by April 1. It uses multiple “pens” of hormone-based medication to drive fertility in women with specific hormone deficiencies. Previously a full treatment cycle would cost up to $3500, a price that will fall to $31.60.

Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand president Petra Wale welcomed the Pergoveris subsidy, saying it could help address Australia’s declining fertility rates.

“The cost of assisted reproduction remains a major barrier for many families, particularly amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis,” Dr Wale said.

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee is independent of government and determines what treatments should be recommended for subsidy, although in both recent women’s health announcements Health Minister Mark Butler said he had pushed for the PBAC to consider rubberstamping relevant medications.

The total cost to taxpayers of the three subsidies was not disclosed, given it would impact the commercial confidence of pharmaceutical providers.

The Coalition supported the announcement, but Opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston said delays between official recommendations for the treatments and their uptake by the Health Department had hurt access and pushed up costs for those already using them.

“It is incredibly concerning that the Albanese government has delayed listing potentially life-changing medications, particularly for Australian women suffering from endometriosis and fertility challenges,” she said.

“This follows the Albanese government’s outrageous decision to put a cap on the number of new medicines that can be considered for listing on the PBS for the first time in history.

“Prioritising women’s health remains a top priority of the Coalition, as we remain strongly committed to our longstanding policy of listing all PBAC-recommended medicines on the PBS, and in a timely manner.”

The announcement comes as Labor seeks to drum up voter concern over possible cuts to health under a potential Coalition government, with the Opposition matching an $8.5 billion Medicare investment in February to assuage concerns.

“We know that women often have complex, and expensive, health needs across different stages of their lives,” Minister for Women Katy Gallagher said.

“This announcement is all about making treatment cheaper and easier, so women can focus on getting the care they need.”

In February, the Albanese government pledged $573 million for contraceptives, endometriosis clinics, UTI treatments and menopause care.

At the time, Mr Butler said the PBS had not kept pace with social progress in ensuring access to a multitude of contraceptives, while keeping hormone replacement therapies out of reach for many women.