Earlier this year, Women’s Health Matters made a major submission to a Legislative Assembly inquiry into Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Conditions, drawing on our survey research to provide local up-to-date evidence of the barriers that people face, including dismissal, diagnostic delay, financial hardship and a fragmented system.
Our submission outlines the steps needed to develop an integrated, publicly funded pelvic health system in the ACT, covering the full continuum of care from early education and assessment through to specialist and multidisciplinary hospital care, which is free or low cost at the point of access, and supported by a well-resourced network of GPs and community clinicians. You can read our submission here.
As principal author of the submission, WHM’s Dr Tayyaba Malik appeared alongside Dr Merri Andrew to give evidence to the Standing Committee on Social Policy as it gathered further input for the inquiry. You can watch the recording of the hearing online.
The reporting date for the inquiry is yet to be announced but WHM will continue our advocacy wherever possible, using our research and amplifying the voices of those who’ve shared their experiences with us.