Australian women battling endometriosis now have affordable access to a long-awaited treatment. 

Dienogest (Visanne), a daily tablet, is the first medication for the condition to be subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) in three decades. 

The move reduces costs from $750 annually to $380 - or $90 for concession card holders.

Endometriosis, affecting one in seven women, causes severe pain and fertility issues. With no cure available, Visanne’s ability to shrink abnormal tissue growth by suppressing ovulation and menstruation offers critical symptom relief.  

Health Minister Mark Butler has hailed the decision as transformative.

“For too long, women living with endometriosis have had to struggle in silence. Women’s pain is real, and it is time we stop telling women to just suck it up,” he said. 

The condition results in over 40,000 hospital admissions annually in Australia. Patients often face years of undiagnosed suffering, partly due to limited awareness. 

Butler has emphasised the impact of Visanne, calling its PBS addition “a game changer” for hundreds of thousands of women.

Experts say Visanne works for over 80 per cent of women and can be used long-term. It has the potential to restore quality of life and reduce the need for surgeries.

The subsidy forms part of a $107 million federal package addressing endometriosis. Initiatives include 22 specialised clinics, new Medicare rebates for specialist care, a national management plan, and research funding. 

These measures aim to improve diagnosis, treatment, and public awareness.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. CareerSpot News