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Australia’s private obstetrics and gynaecology sector is under great pressure. Systemic gender bias in funding and insurance is threatening the viability of private O&G care, leaving women with fewer options and placing greater strain on an already overburdened public healthcare system.

To address this, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (�����ƽ��, the College) convened a Roundtable on 14 November, “Preserving Women’s Choice and the Future of Private Obstetrics & Gynaecology.” This critical forum brought together service providers, policymakers, insurers, and private sector stakeholders to explore the systemic reforms needed to safeguard choice in women’s healthcare and ensure the sustainability of private services.

Discussions at the Roundtable yielded several recommendations for urgent collective action to address these inequities and secure the future of private women’s healthcare in Australia.

For a comprehensive overview of the discussions and proposed solutions, read the College’s Private Practice Roundtable Report.

Private health plays a vital role in Australia’s healthcare landscape. One-quarter of all births and 70% of elective women’s procedures are managed in private care. However, rising costs, inequitable insurance coverage, and inadequate government funding are jeopardising its future. Currently, as private maternity wards close and private gynaecological services cease, the public health system is left to absorb the increased demand, creating a perpetuating cycle of growing pressure, longer wait times, diminished access to care, and fundamentally poorer health outcomes for women.

The College is grateful to all participants of the roundtable for their valuable contributions to this important discussion. �����ƽ�� is committed to working with key collaborators to advance the recommendations outlined in the report, and we look forward to making progress together to secure the future of private obstetric and gynaecological care in Australia.

For media enquiries

Bec McPhee
Head of Advocacy & Communications
bmcphee@ranzcog.edu.au
+61 413 258 166