VICDOC Summer 2025 - Flipbook - Page 44
We know women often require longer
consultations to identify and manage
increasingly complex symptoms,
yet Australia’s outdated Medicare
structure remains geared towards
shorter consultations.
Health content is almost impossible
yet Australia’s outdated Medicare
to avoid online. The key is staying
structure remains geared towards
vigilant about where the information
shor ter consultations.
is coming from and having a regular
GP to provide comprehensive advice
tailored to your individual circumstances.
At the same time, it is crucial to
acknowledge women continue to face
disadvantages in our health system.
which calls for an MBS restructure to
support longer consultations, is one step
toward addressing this imbalance.
Credit where credit is due; the Federal
Government has made some notable
These disadvantages are nothing new.
changes, including the introduction
Women’s symptoms are too
of a new Medicare rebate item for
often dismissed or misattributed —
menopause health assessments and
often due to a historical lack of
additional funding for long-acting
female representation in medical
reversible contraceptives. But these
research. Structural issues with
are just drops in the ocean compared
Medicare and chronic government
to what is needed to restore general
underfunding only deepen this inequity.
practice as the cornerstone of Australia’s
We know women often require longer
44
Our Modernise Medicare campaign,
healthcare system.
consultations to identify and manage
Recent OECD data reminds us why
increasingly complex symptoms,
investing in primary care is so important.
