Government establishes expert panels to guide future priorities for women’s health — the first will focus on cardiovascular disease
The Federal Government has announced expert panels to shape the next phase of Australia’s women’s health priorities. Her Heart welcomes the move and is excited to see cardiovascular disease at the front and centre.
New Ministerial Expert Panels are being established to advise the Federal Government on priority issues in women’s health. The first will focus specifically on cardiovascular disease in women.
Chaired by Assistant Minister for Health Rebecca White, the panels will bring together clinicians, researchers, advocates and women with lived experience of identified health conditions.
The current National Women’s Health Advisory Council (the Council) has contributed to significant advancements in Australia’s policies on women’s health since its establishment. The new panels will build upon the Council’s success, focusing specifically on health conditions with disproportionate and inequitable impacts on women.
White described the formation of these panels as “the natural next step in our commitment to improving women’s health,” stating that the new approach ”will ensure expert advice continues to drive real and lasting change for women and girls across Australia.”
The first expert panel will investigate cardiovascular disease, which is still significantly under-recognised, under-diagnosed and under-treated in women. The disparities across cardiovascular disease in Australia are comprehensively captured in the Her Heart Report Card which launched last month. Providing a snapshot of how women are faring across prevention, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes, the Report Card confirms that over half of all deaths among women in Australia are linked to cardiovascular disease.
Her Heart is extremely pleased that the government is prioritising this crucial area in women’s health and look forward to seeing improved outcomes for women facing cardiovascular disease. Read more about our response and recommendations for action in our press release below.