Women living with endometriosis have cheaper access to treatment, with Visanne now added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said the daily tablet worked to shrink and suppress the growth of abnormal tissue and would be the first endometriosis treatment in 30 years to be subsidised.
Minister Butler said one in seven Australian women suffered from endometriosis, which could cause crippling pain and may be associated with infertility.
“There is no cure for endometriosis and it can last for decades. Affordable access to treatment options to help control symptoms is extremely important to women’s quality of life.”
He said endometriosis resulted in more than 40,000 hospital admissions each year and left hundreds of thousands of women regularly in pain.
“Without subsidy, patients might pay around $750 per year for treatment.”
Minister Butler said in addition to the PBS listing, the Government would add two new items to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) enabling extended consultation times and increased rebates for specialist gynaecological care.
