Women’s health was top of the agenda at a roundtable attended by key Liberal Party politicians in Penrith last week.
The roundtable was held as part of Women’s Health Week.
Throughout the day, many key themes were discussed including menopause, endometriosis, fertility and IVF with medical professionals, allied health professionals and peak health bodies all participating to share their insights.
Those in attendance included Federal Lindsay MP and Shadow Minister for Western Sydney Melissa McIntosh, Deputy Opposition Leader and Shadow Minister for Women Susan Ley, Shadow Health and Aged Care Minister Anne Ruston and New South Wales Senator Maria Kovacic, who has been appointed to the Parliamentary Inquiries into Rare Cancers and Menopause to co-chair a Women’s Health roundtable.
Ley said it was important to highlight issues in the health system that specifically impact women.
“Whether it is women living with chronic health conditions, or a couple on their fertility journey, I know for too many women healthcare is not working as well as it should and government policy needs to be updated – that is what this roundtable is all about,” Ley said.
“Australian women need to be supported to be able to make choices about how they want to live their lives, and that starts with making sure governments are supporting women with their health.”
Ruston said that the need for better and more affordable access to high quality women’s healthcare is undeniable, particularly in western Sydney.
“We want to ensure that women across Australia can access care that is not only affordable, but also understands their experience and needs,” Ruston said.
“The Coalition has already committed $5 million towards reviewing women-specific health items on the MBS (Medicare benefits Schedule) and PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) if elected, to ensure affordable access to clinically effective services and treatments. But we know that more must be done to support women’s health.
“As the Opposition Leader committed in the Budget in Reply, we remain focused on developing policy to ensure the health needs of Australian women are met by our healthcare system. This work builds on our proud record of funding important women’s health initiatives, including our leadership on endometriosis research and support.”
McIntosh said that as western Sydney continues to grow it is important to ensure equal access to quality health care.
“That’s why it was so important to have this roundtable in Penrith today, to talk about important issues of women’s health, but also with an added focus on western Sydney, affordability and access,” she said.
Emily Chate
Emily Chate joined The Western Weekender in 2024, and covers local news - primarily courts and politics. A graduate of the University of Wollongong, Emily has contributed to The Daily Telegraph and worked as a freelance journalist.