Jordon Steele-John (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, and today I call for Ryeqo, the first oral tablet approved by the TGA for endometriosis pain, to be covered under the PBS. Diagnosis and effective treatment for endo remains elusive for many. New treatment options are essential, yet many have high financial barriers. Without being on the PBS, a prescription for Ryeqo is $135 or more for a one-month supply. This is a significant financial barrier that will prevent access altogether.

It should not have taken so long to secure new treatment options for endometriosis, but a recent survey conducted by the National Women's Health Advisory Council shed some light as to why it has taken so long. The survey has revealed starkly the reality: two-thirds of women report bias or discrimination in Australian health care. First Nations women, women of colour, members of the queer community and people with diverse gender identities face compounding challenges due to intersecting biases and discriminatory practises. This bias and discrimination manifests in various ways, such as dismal diagnosis and dismissal rates in terms of symptoms, inadequate pain management and unequal access to treatment options. In 2024, medical misogyny and queerphobia remain rampant in the healthcare system. So many people are leaving medical appointments feeling gaslit, and that is unacceptable.