New IVF, contraception and endometriosis drugs added to PBS
A new oral contraceptive, reproductive health and treatments for endometriosis will be added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from 1 May.
Slinda is currently available privately, with 80,000 women paying $80 for three months’ supply, but the drug will receive wider availability with the subsidy that is expected to lower the price to $7.70 for concession card holders and $31.60 for general payments.
A new treatment option for endometriosis for patients who have experienced moderate to severe pain and cannot get adequate relief from other hormonal treatments and painkillers has also been added to the scheme.
The federal health minister, Mark Butler, said the addition of the treatments to the scheme will give “Australian women more choice, lower costs and better health options”.
Women have asked government to take their health care seriously, and we have listened.
These listings could save women and their families thousands of dollars across their lifetimes.
The new subsidy is in addition to the federal government’s $573m women’s health funding announcement made in early February.
Minister for women, Katy Gallagher, said women often have more expensive and more complex health issues.
This announcement is all about making treatment cheaper and easier, so women can focus on getting the care they need.
Key events
Just a note on the hot weather in Sydney to say that if the Sydney Observatory Hill mercury gets above 37.9C it will be the hottest March day in 5 years, and if it gets above 38.0C it will be Sydney’s hottest March day ever.
This is looking unlikely at this stage, though with the temperature only just tipping over 36C with 2pm usually the hottest past of the day.
Meanwhile, it is currently 15.cC in Melbourne after a balmy night of 21.4C at 10am.
Human-caused climate change will continue to drag up temperatures and break records for the rest of our lifetimes unless a meaningful effort is made to address the issue.
