PROPOSED DELISTING OF MENOPAUSAL HORMONE THERAPIES - ESTRADOT®, ESTALIS CONTINUOUS® AND ESTALIS SEQUI® TRANSDERMAL PATCHES -  FROM THE PHARMACEUTICAL BENEFITS SCHEME (PBS) FROM 1 JUNE 2021

(https://www.pbs.gov.au/browse/changes ).

The supplier of these medications, Sandoz, has sought to have them removed from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.  The reason given for this request is that the supply of these medications to the Australian market has been at below the cost to manufacture.

These medications have been and are being successfully used by many women throughout Australia to manage symptoms of menopause, peri-menopause, surgical menopause, early and premature menopause.  They have also been used by girls and women with conditions requiring estrogen replacement therapy.

These medications take the form of transdermal patches, one of the lowest-risk forms of delivery of Menopausal Hormone Therapies.  In this form they are suitable for use by women who cannot take oral tablets or for whom oral versions may expose them to unnecessary risks. 

The removal of Estalis Continuous® and Estalis Sequi® from the PBS will mean that there will be no subsidised combined transdermal Menopausal Hormone Therapy options available from 1 June 2021.

Should all these medications be removed from the PBS, it is likely that they will still be available on a private script but at a much higher price – up to $24.87 more expensive per script for one month’s supply.  This may put them out of reach of women with limited financial means. Concession card holders will need to pay full price.  

Through this Petition we urge the Hon Greg Hunt, Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Marise Payne, Minister for Women, and the Australian Government to ensure that these medications remain on the PBS.