A recent Senate Inquiry into the adverse impacts of transvaginal mesh implants raised awareness of the traumatic experiences experienced by women who have undergone mesh-related procedures. As a result, the Inquiry was able to identify how women who have been affected by these procedures are being recognised and supported.
With the intention of making improvements to Australia’s health care system, the Inquiry has raised 13 recommendations. In response, the Government has stated that they will support 12 of these 13 recommendations in principle, in order to restore confidence in the health care system for those persons affected.
In the meantime, the Government has advised they are already taking action to improve patient information, re-classify surgical mesh products, streamline reporting of adverse events, introduce new Medicare Benefits Schedule items for surgical repair, introduce further resources to guide clinical practice and launch the new TGA “web hub” with information on transvaginal mesh.
Read the Department’s media release here.