Over 660,000 Australian Women Access Cheaper Health Scripts

• There have been over 660,000 females in Australia filling less expensive scripts after the Health Packages
• 2 million scripts for contraceptives, hormone therapy and endometriosis have been filled

After the Australian Government announced their $792.9 million women's health, more than 660,000 women accessed two million prescriptions for new contraceptives, menopausal hormone therapies and endometriosis treatments from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

This announcement from the Albanese Labor Government also demonstrates the positive impact the funding provided by the Government had on women's health.

Katy Gallagher, Minister for Finance and Minister for Women stated: "Women told the Government they expected serious consideration of their health care needs. We have taken that seriously. In the first year of the women's health program, hundreds of thousands of women have been able to access and afford essential medicines and have easier access to quality menopause management through the addition of Medicare funded care, and they have been able to afford longer acting methods of contraception."

"The financial benefits for women are evident in both the pharmacy counter and general practice offices where women are currently paying $25 per PBS prescription to access these services, which will reduce further by 2026."

Through modernising women's health through providing additional specialised services via clinics, improving access to primary care services and making sure the health system supports women through every stage of their lives; the Government has made a commitment to improving women's health outcomes.

The first new contraceptive pills listed on PBS in 30 years and two other methods used by 303,000 women saved $23 million through 573,000 prescriptions in a year.

The first new menopausal hormone therapies in 20 years allowed 363,000 women to save $45.4 million through 1,500,000 prescriptions in the same time frame.

Also, more than 46,000 women seeking treatment for IVF received earlier access to and lower costs for fertility treatments through 273,000 prescriptions in the past 12 months.

Beginning January of 2026, women will receive additional savings through lower out of pocket expenses for PBS prescription medications of $25 while the concessional copayment will be kept at $7.70.

Complex gynecological conditions (e.g., endometriosis, PCOS, and chronic pelvic pain) have been supported by the $49 million-investment in additional 430,000 services by government investment; as well as an increase in access to Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinics (now 33 residential Clinics nationally).