The senate enquiry report findings released this month found there are multiple challenges across women’s sexual, maternity and reproductive healthcare – and one in four South Australian women will deal with an unplanned pregnancy

“I think there are certainly differences in access for particular cohorts,” committee vice chair and SA Senator Marielle Smith said about the report, Ending the postcode lottery: Addressing barriers to sexual, maternity and reproductive healthcare in Australia.

“I think when you look right across our healthcare system you don’t have to dig very deep to see significant examples where women are not being prioritised in our health system,” she said.

There were 350 submissions to the enquiry that began sitting last September, including numerous calls for free contraceptives being available to women.

Smith said extensive data was submitted that showed “there’s inequity in our health system that is gendered”.

“Sometimes it’s like there’s a box of women’s issues on the side for women to deal with,” she said, with women in remote or rural areas particularly disadvantaged.

The report tabled in parliament listed 36 recommendations, from expanding Medicare rebates for in-vitro fertilisation services to exploring how well existing programs providing free menstrual hygiene products are working.

It specifically noted the lack of accessible male contraceptive options in Australia that means “the responsibility of birth control” falls on women.

One recommendation targeted an increase in federal government funding for research and clinical trials around “the availability and development of contraceptive options for males”.

“There are currently no hormonal male contraceptive therapeutic goods registered in Australia, and either condoms or vasectomies remain the only available forms of contraception for men,” the report noted.

Other recommendations included ensuring there was easier access to all aspects of “women’s health” including pregnancy terminations for all women, particularly in remote and regional areas.

It noted that 11 per cent of women have missed having a contraceptive script filled in time as they struggled to find GP appointments.

A concerted third party coordinated campaign from anti-abortionists to the enquiry was also noted.

The Australian Christian Lobby sent 320 emails opposing existing abortion laws and promoting other options including supporting pregnancy crisis centres and adoption agencies.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has supported recommendations to better pay GPs, nurses, and midwives to provide contraceptive services more expansively, including the insertion and removal of long-acting reversible contraceptives.

It also backed moves to make contraceptives more affordable, along with continuing current Medicare Benefits Schedule telehealth items for sexual and reproductive healthcare, including pregnancy support counselling and termination care

“It’s also very positive to see the committee calling for the government to put in place options to make contraception more affordable,” president Nicole Higgins said.

“This is a particularly salient issue given high cost of living pressures squeezing many households across Australia.

“Anyone should be able to choose the contraceptive options that best suit them without having to worry about their hip pocket.”

She also welcomed the committee recommending the government review Medicare arrangements which support medical termination consultations with the aim of ensuring adequate remuneration for practitioners to deliver these services

“We can start by adding medicines for medical termination to the prescriber bag or ‘doctor’s bag’ of emergency use medicines,” Higgins said.

The RACGP also welcomed recommendations to improve access to a broader range of hormonal contraceptives that are not currently Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme subsidised, including newer forms of the oral contraceptive pill, the emergency oral contraceptive pills and the vaginal ring.

Recommendations will now be considered by Health Minister Mark Butler.