Federal election 2025: Albanese Government’s $573m cash splash on women’s sexual and reproductive health

Hundreds of thousands of women stretching their budgets to afford birth control or menopause therapies will soon save, the Federal Government says, with plans to list several medications on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Two common combined oral contraceptive pills, Yaz and Yasmin, will be listed on the PBS from March 1 — saving women hundreds of dollars who usually pay upwards of $350 each year.

Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler, Minister for Women Katy Gallagher and Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Ged Kearney will make the announcement on Sunday as part of a half-a-billion-dollar package to lower costs and increase choice in women’s healthcare.

It will be the first time a new contraceptive pill has been listed on the PBS in more than three decades, and it’s an admission the government is willing to make as it spruiks the $573.3m pre-election package targeting women.

Mr Butler said “it was clear the PBS wasn’t working for women” after a decades-long lag in contraception or hormone therapy listings.

“It’s about time Australian women had more choice, lower costs and better healthcare,” he said.

One in three Australian women aged 18-39 who use the combined oral contraceptive pill are fronting up major cash for non-PBS listed pills.

Yaz and Yasmin — drosperinone with ethinylestradiol — are just two of many non-PBS listed pills, costing between roughly $80 and $90 for a three-month supply.

Prohibitive costs paired with conditions that prevent the use of other cheaper, PBS-listed pills means some women often risk going without.

The listing is expected to benefit 50,000 women annually, who will now pay $126.40 a year or $30.80 a year with a concession card.

Menopausal hormone therapies Estrogel, Estrogel Pro and Prometrium will also be listed on the PBS from March 1 in a move projected to help up to 150,000 women a year, while a new Medicare rebate for menopause health assessments will be introduced for women experiencing menopause and perimenopause will be introduced from July 1.

The PBS-listings and rebates are among a suite of measures being rolled out, including bulk-billing for intra-uterine device insertion and removal, more endometriosos and pelvic pain clinics, and the first-ever clinical guidelines for menopause care.

But there’s a catch.

Some of these measures will only be implemented under a re-elected Albanese Government.

The $573.3m investment spans five years, and the Federal election must be held any time between now and May 17.

The announcement follows the oral contraceptives stakeholder meeting in October and the latest meeting of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee in November.

“The PBAC noted the outcomes of the stakeholder meeting, including that access to a range of subsidised hormonal contraceptive options is consistent with public health aims and that newer oral contraceptives are more appropriate in particular clinical situations,” the PBAC said.

Ms Gallagher said these changes “could save women and their families thousands of dollars across their lifetimes” — but only if Labor wins Government.