Australian Women Benefit From 2021-22 BUDGET

A significant investment into the health and wellbeing of women and girls forms part of the 2021-22 Budget released yesterday.

Over the next four years, $354 million will be spent implementing the five priority areas of the National Women’s Health Strategy 2020-2030 and improving long-term health outcomes for women and girls.

Minister for Women and Liberal Senator for Western Sydney, Senator the Hon Marise Payne said the Morrison government’s investment would benefit Australian women of all ages.

Among key measures, $100.4 million will be allocated to improvements to cervical and breast cancer screening programs, $26.9 million to provide support for people with eating disorders and their families and $6.6 million for Breast Cancer Network Australia to operate its helpline, rural and regional information forums and extending its consumer representative training program.

Senator Payne also said they were also investing $47.4 million to support the mental health and wellbeing of new and expectant parents, as well as $13.7 million for the Australian Preterm Birth Alliance to reduce preterm birth babies. “We’re also providing additional funding to improve the health and wellbeing of Australians suffering from endometriosis,” Senator Payne said.

“Affecting one in nine women, endometriosis can lead to severe chronic pain and, in some cases, infertility.

“Given over half the Australian popu-lation is made up of women, it’s important that we have equal access to health services and support.

“Our investment of $353.9 million into women’s health will benefit all Australians today and into the future.

“Each of these investments will have a profound impact on women and girls in The Hawkesbury and across Australia.”

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said the government was committed to improving health services around Australia for all women and girls, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“As part of this significant investment, $13.7 million will help to reduce the rate of preterm births in Australia, which affect 8 percent of births in Australia and up to 16 percent among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women,” Minister Hunt said.

“We are also listing Oripro® (progesterone) on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from June 1, which is used to prevent women going into premature labour, saving around 14,250 women up to $300 per course of treatment.

“Currently only couples of individuals, who are carriers of serious genetic dis-orders can only access PGT if they are able to pay privately.

“We’re investing $95.9 million for five new MBS items, ensuring all Austral-ians can access this testing.”

The government’s National Women’s Health Strategy 2020–2030 has five priority areas:

Maternal, Sexual and reproductive health, Healthy ageing, chronic conditions, Preventative health, mental health, and e-health impacts of violence against women and girls.

Core issues affecting the lives and livelihoods of women and girls.

Other investments include:

$95.9 million for new tests on the MBS for pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) of embryos for specific genetic or chromosomal abnormalities prior to implantation and pregnancy.

$47.4 million to support the mental health and wellbeing of new and expectant parents, including through funding for the Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA) helpline, and by working to deliver universal perinatal mental screening and improved data collection across public antenatal and postnatal care settings;.

$22 million for additional gynaecology items on the MBS, including items for Assisted Reproductive Technology and long-term reversible contraceptives.

$21.6 million for women’s health initiatives, including Jean Hailes for Women’s Health and the Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia for the Periods, Pain and Endometriosis Program (PPEP-Talk).

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