Women’s Health Products Working Group, Meeting 9

We hosted the ninth meeting of the Women’s Health Products Working Group (WHPWG) on 27 March 2025. 

The WHPWG is comprised of representatives from consumer groups, health professionals, industry, academia, and senior officials from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

The following topics were presented:

• Updates on, International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF) guiding principles to support Medical Device Health Equity, the new mandatory reporting scheme and progress of the UDI program.  As well, the recent budget announcements in relation to Women’s Health initiatives were discussed, along with the work of the Medical Devices Consumer Working Group, and work on advice documents for travelling with a medical device and emerging regulatory options for menstrual sponges
• Pharmacists prescribing and dispensing women’s health products with the focus of improving access to quality sexual reproductive health services, contraception, abortion and preconception care.
• The use of lasers in obstetrics and gynaecology, the regulatory limitations in addressing issues regarding cosmetic use of lasers, issues relating to advertising of laser products and consumer misinformation in this space.
• Discussion on Asherman’s Syndrome and related women’s health products and the need for improved data collection and collaboration with specialist medical colleges, communities and health professionals about the Syndrome.
• Updates on the TGA’s medicines shortages public consultation process and an update to TGA’s regulatory framework for medicines shortages and discontinuations.
• National Women’s Health Advisory Committee (NWHAC) update with advice on published reports, key activities, and engagement with various stakeholders. 

 The next WHPWG meeting is scheduled to be held on 17 July 2025.