Women’s Health: What the major parties are promising

Who are the women running for election in 2022? Check out Women Elect, our page tracking female candidates.

For many women, health has taken a back seat over the past couple of years during the pandemic. Regular health screenings fell down women’s priority lists, as COVID-10 overwhelmed the health system in some parts of Australia and women were burdened with more caring responsibilities.

In the 2021 Australia Talks survey, one in three women said they’ve had their health concerns dismissed by a GP, and Australian women are twice as likely to feel dismissed by their doctor as men.

Women’s mental health is a major concern, as women with dependent children experienced greater declines in their mental health than other cohorts of Australians during lockdown periods.

There continues to be a gender gap in medical research, with research on women’s health issues continuing to go underfunded. 

There are many groups being left behind by a system that tends to apply a generalised lens to all women and fails to be inclusive. Indigenous women, culturally and linguistically diverse women, women with disabilities, and those within the LGBTQI+ community are some of the groups that face additional barriers accessing and receiving adequate healthcare.

 WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR: Our 2022 election policy pages are live, and updated as we learn more from each of the major parties.

THE COALITION

• Listing Trodelvy® for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer
• Listing Kisqali on the PBS for patients battling breast cancer
• Listing Oripro on the PBS to prevent women entering premature labour
• $9.7 million for short term surge capacity for BreastScreen Australia
• $58 million for endometriosis
• $53 million commitment to expand access to IVF treatment ($14.4 million to support those with genetic diseases with the cost of egg, sperm and embryo storage, $13.7 million to support future parents in the IVF process, $25.7 million for perinatal mental health services)
• $81.2m for genetic testing for parents planning a pregnancy

LABOR

• Deliver 50 new Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, designed to take pressure off emergency departments
• Reducing cost of medications by reducing the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme co-payment from a current maximum of $42.50 per script to a maximum of $30 per script
• Committed to matching the Coalition’s IVF policies and funding

THE GREENS

• Improve access to safe and affordable abortion services
•  Fund national data collection on maternity care experiences
•  $129 million to support Birthing on Country projects
• $68.5 million for free pads and tampons in all schools
• Greater rights for workers who experience serious pain/debilitation associated with periods, endometriosis, menopause, fertility procedures