Pharmacy Daily | $1m for women’s health

THE Sisterhood Foundation has announced an additional $1 million funding commitment to support neglected areas in women's health, following the release of a new report produced in partnership with Monash University, Women Deserve Better.

The pledge from Wesfarmers Health's official charity will focus on Australia's most underfunded and misunderstood women's health issues, including mental health conditions, chronic pain conditions, cardioavascular disease and endometriosis.

The report found that just 3.3% of government health research funding in 2023-24 was allocated to women's health, and that was mostly focused on reproductive or sexual health.

Many among the 2,200 women, girls and health experts who contributed to the research reported feeling unheard or dismissed when raising health concerns, and called for more affordable, accessible and gender-responsive care.

"Australia's women and girls are calling for greater attention and support for issues that only, differently or disproportionately affect them," said lead researcher and Senior Research Fellow at Monash University, Dr Sara Holton.

Since launching in 2011, the Sisterhood Foundation has raised more than $13.5 million, largely through the fundraising efforts of Priceline Pharmacy teams and the support of customers.

The additional $1 million for women's health will be distributed over the next 12 months to new charity partners whose work aligns with the priority areas identified in the report.

"This research gives us a clear roadmap for targeted, evidence-informed giving to deliver on our purpose to hear, acknowledge, and address the unique health issues impacting Australian women and girls, and provides powerful motivation for the Priceline Pharmacy network's ongoing fundraising efforts," said Katie McLeish, Executive Officer, Sisterhood Foundation.

"We know where our support can have the greatest impact for women and girls in Australia and create positive health outcomes."

Read the report HERE. KB