Question
this is my essay, i need a conclusion. This is the question : On 28 September 2022, the Senate referred an inquiry into the universal
this is my essay, i need a conclusion.
This is the question : On 28 September 2022, the Senate referred an inquiry into the universal access to reproductive healthcare to the Senate Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report. On May 2023, the Report titled "Ending the postcode lottery: Addressing barriers to sexual, maternity and reproductive healthcare in Australia" was realised. You are working for a NGO named 'Youth Alliance for Sexual and Reproductive Rights', which wants to start a campaign in favour of the protection of reproductive rights in Australia. As their legal expert, you have been asked to explain the public what the legal framework (including regulations) of reproductive health care in Australia is, with a focus in NSW, and what changes your organization is proposing taking into consideration the findings of the report. You are welcome to compare New South Wales framework to other Australian jurisdictions, or other legal systems. You need to focus in one of the following sexual and/or reproductive rights: Access to contraception Abortion Access to assisted reproductive techniques The campaign will be released in two formats: podcast and essay. Choose one (1) of these formats. Have in mind that feminist approaches to biotech are an important source of references for your bibliography.
As a legal professional affiliated with the Youth Alliance for Sexual Reproductive Rights, I will provide an overview of the legal frameworks in place across various states, analyze the findings of the "Ending the Postcode Lottery: Addressing Barriers to Sexual, maternity and Reproductive Healthcare in Australia" senate inquiry report, and suggest potential reforms that could establish uniform access to reproductive healthcare, all while incorporating feminist biotech viewpoints.
The regulation of reproductive rights for women in Australia is subject to both federal and state/territorial policies. However, there appears to be a lack of comprehensive knowledge regarding the number and extent of these policies. Common themes that influence women's reproductive choices can be identified in the policies that have been identified. These themes include the promotion of motherhood and children, the provision of incentives, the regulation of reproduction, and taking into account broader health issues.
These policy agendas are shaped by and contribute to the context in which women's reproductive choices are made. As a result, they impact the position of women in our society. The policies tend to favor middle-classed, white, heterosexual, cisgender, married women as desirable procreators while excluding low-income, Indigenous, non-white, queer, single, adolescent, older, and disabled women from accessing resources that would enhance their reproductive health and decision-making.
It's worth noting that the majority of Australian women use some form of contraception, which is a positive trend. However, the data from 1006 surveys shows that there may be challenges in maintaining consistent use, which could be attributed to a lack of awareness, education, or access to resources.
The legal framework and regulations of reproductive health are administered by the Therapeutic Goods and Administration, The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Subsidies, and the Medical Benefits Schedule Rebates. The TGA is responsible for the assessment and regulation of medicines and products in Australia. For a medicine to be lawfully supplied, a sponsor must apply. So the TGA can establish the acceptable safety, quality, and efficiency of the medicine.
Australia also has a national classification system, known as scheduling, that controls how medicines and chemicals are made. These are published in the Poison Standard and are given legal effect through state and territory legislation. Contraceptives are under Schedule 4 of the Poisons standard.
Moving on to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), once a sponsor has been included on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG), they must apply to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC). The PBAC is an independent expert body appointed by the government that assesses the cost-effectiveness of medicines and therapies. If the application is approved, the medicine is listed on the PBS, and patients can access it at a subsidized rate.
The report 'Ending the Postcode Lottery' shows that contraceptive accessibility is becoming more difficult in Australia, especially for younger and socioeconomically disadvantaged people. Affordable contraceptives are crucial for women's healthcare equity, autonomy, and justice. Unfortunately, the financial strain is felt most by younger and socioeconomically disadvantaged demographics, leading to higher unintended pregnancies. As part of the Youth Alliance for Sexual Reproductive Rights, we are starting a campaign in favour of the protection of reproductive rights in Australia. Our campaign will consider these 4 things;
- Telehealth
- Ensure health practitioners receive adequate remuneration to bulk-bill
Make contraceptives more affordable
Enhance the role of nurses, midwives, and community pharmacists
Our first campaign will identify the overarching problem for healthcare providers. It is to our attention that it is hard for healthcare providers to offer services regarding contraception without charging extra. Therefore as a result is affecting women's access to essential reproductive health services.
The committee notes the recent budget 2023-24 announces a $3.5b investment to triple bulk bill incentive, a $1.5b indexation to boost medicare rebates, and an introduction for longer level E consult. This is a step in the right direction, but adopting a feminist bioethical approach would mean pushing for policies that ensure these services are sustainably and fairly compensated for both parties.
Medicare enrollees with clinical needs beyond contraception are twice as likely to use contraceptives as those without. Universal Medicare coverage for all contraceptive methods without cost sharing would enhance financial access and support reproductive autonomy. However, the current Medicare remuneration for LARC procedures is insufficient for healthcare providers to offer these services without additional fees. Moreover, the committee is worried about the adverse effects on residents ineligible for Medicare, as this ineligibility often leads to unmet basic healthcare needs and imposes extra costs on vulnerable individuals.
Write more on Ensure health practitioners receive adequate remuneration to bulk-bill
Our second campaign will promote the usage of telehealth and capitalizing on our healthcare workers in Australia to increase the usage of contraception. The report recommends task-sharing strategies in contraceptive care delivery to enhance the accessibility and affordability of contraceptive services across Australia. enhancing access to contraceptives requires initiatives to improve consumer health literacy regarding contraceptive options. Telehealth should be integrated as a viable service delivery mode, and investments in contraceptive services should be increased. This should include appropriate reimbursement models for providers. The report also recommends the introduction of innovative care models, such as those led by nurses and midwives or involving pharmacists in contraceptive counseling to broaden the accessibility and utilization of effective contraceptive methods in Australia.
Nurses and midwives, constitute the largest segment of Australia's healthcare workforce and possess high levels of education and capability. The committee suggests that financial support enabling these practitioners to fully utilize their skills is imperative. The report recognizes that there are pressing wait times for GP appointments and approximately 11% of women have missed taking their oral contraception due to delays in obtaining new prescriptions. Increasing the remuneration for these roles would greatly enhance the accessibility of contraceptive services across the country.
A feminist bioethical approach asserts that the affordability and economic sustainability of health services are structurally significant. Thus, it can be concluded that addressing these issues is crucial for achieving equitable healthcare. Such policies are crucial not only for improving individual healthoutcomes but also for promoting gender equity and justice in healthcare.
It is worth noting that the issue of access to reproductive health services is not unique to Australia. In the United States, about 38 million women at risk of unintended pregnancy, need better family planning care to make informed choices about their reproductive lives. Even in Sweden, where many women found their access to contraceptive services to be stable during the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant number felt it had worsened. Telemedicine use was low, and overall contraceptive use dropped. These findings highlight the need to boost awareness and evaluate telemedicine-provided interventions to maintain quality care and informed decision-making. It is also quite challenging for adolescents in the Philippines as they face legal, social, and political barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health services. This puts them at a higher risk of unplanned pregnancy, abortion, sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and other health and development issues. In comparison to Australia, the Philippines has a lot of catching up to do.
We are looking to make changes in the cost of contraception and make it more accessible to all individuals. The diagram illustrates factors influencing the use of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) and highlights the importance of making contraception more accessible and affordable, especially for youth.For example, learning how to improve adolescent-centered communication, shared decision-making, and motivational counseling strategies may be the first step to improving utilization rates
Using a feminist bioethical approach, it recognizes the impact of social and personal factors such as socioeconomic status and education on contraceptive choices. To reduce inequalities, efforts should focus on decreasing financial and informational barriers to LARC. Training healthcare providers and enhancing youth confidence in managing their contraceptive needs. Advocating for policies that make LARC free or affordable and increasing targeted education about its benefits can empower young people.
A fundamental element of gender equity is women's right to reproductive choice. Women's empowerment is often linked to enabling decisions around contraceptive use.Through our campaign and research, one approach that has proven effective in addressing this issue is to provide free contraception to people under 26. The adoption of such policies would be consistent with feminist bioethics, which emphasizes the importance of ensuring that healthcare services are accessible to all without discrimination or financial barriers.
France's approach to reproductive healthcare empowers women, improves public health, and promotes gender equality by providing women with control over their reproductive health, free from financial barriers. It was also noted that the girls and women who were educated about LARCs and were provided no-cost contraception had lower rates of pregnancy than the national rates for sexually active teens.
Let's follow in France's footsteps and prioritize women's health and rights.
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