VIC inquiry finds healthcare system is dismissive and male-centred

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The Victorian government has released a first ever inquiry into "women's pain". The report found the state's healthcare system is built around "Caucasian male biology” and is contributing to poorer outcomes for women and girls.

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00:00The release of this report is nearly a year overdue and no new funding has been committed

00:07for women's health, but the Victorian Government says it acknowledges that more funding for

00:12research is needed.

00:14As part of the inquiry, 19,000 women shared their experience of pain over eight months.

00:2090% said they had experienced pain lasting over a year and 54% said they experienced

00:25it daily.

00:26We heard from Thea Baker who has had multiple health conditions and surgeries.

00:31She said she's gotten used to living in daily pain and it's taken her until 41 to receive

00:35an endometriosis diagnosis.

00:37When it comes to gynaecological pain and pelvic pain, you just take Nurofen and Panadol and

00:44you suck it up and you keep going because we are conditioned as women that pain is normal.

00:50The report has made 27 recommendations.

00:53That includes improving education on women's health for health professionals and making

00:57healthcare more affordable and accessible.

01:00The Victorian Government has accepted all of these recommendations but didn't announce

01:04any new funding for women's health or research today.

01:08It said it will advocate to the Federal Government for more funding for research and it will develop

01:13a women's pain action plan over the next six months.

01:16In terms of immediate action, the State Government says it's rolling out the green whistle for

01:20pain relief for women getting an IUD contraceptive device implanted.

01:25It said it's also continuing its rollout of a $150 million women's health package it announced

01:31a few years ago, which includes a new clinic.

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