Big boost for women's health is positive, but reproductive health leave is needed
The federal government's $573 million dollar package to improve access to reproductive health services for women is being warmly received by the Health Services Union.
But the union has cautioned there is still work to be done, including the establishment of universal reproductive health leave.
"This package is definitely a great step, and well overdue. This money will go a long way in helping create a more equitable health system for women," Health Services Union's national senior assistant secretary Kate Marshall said.
As part of the package, new oral contraceptive pills will be listed on the PBS for the first time in more than three decades. There will also be more Medicare support for women going through menopause, and subsidies for new hormonal therapies, and increased services for endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics.
The HSU supports all these measures, but is urging decision makers to seriously consider reproductive health leave as an important missing piece.
"Women experiencing period pain, IVF journeys, miscarriage, terminations, treatments or anything relating to their reproductive health should be able to access specific paid leave and flexibility," Kate Marshall said.
The HSU, Queensland Council of Unions and Aware Super commissioned research by Bankwest Curtin Economics which found committing to funding 12 days of paid reproductive health leave a year would cost around $900 million, and could save billions in lost productivity.
"Making reproductive health leave a universal entitlement is not only dignifying for Australian women, but it makes economic sense. A huge number of our workers are women, and our leave entitlements should acknowledge our reproductive needs."
