“We need to flip the pyramid” Why the Government’s menopause investment needs a smarter strategy

Like most midlife women across the country, I was keen to see the Federal Government’s women’s health investment announcement. There is no doubt that MHT and additional contraception options on the PBS are a huge boon for millions (as long as they can keep those stocks in check). However, there was one part of the announcement in particular that left me perplexed.

The introduction of menopause health checks is no doubt a step in the right direction, but the proposed roll-out, in my opinion, is a deeply flawed one. A one-off consultation with a GP isn’t going to cut it (eg, what GP?). It’s not scalable, and it won’t fix the systemic access issues that leave thousands of Australian women struggling to get the care they need when they need it.

Let’s talk about the reality:

• Australia is facing a GP shortage, with a predicted shortfall of 10,600 full-time GPs by 2031 (RACGP). This means longer wait times and overburdened doctors who don’t have time for complex, nuanced conversations about menopause – now offering 45-minute consults?!
  
• Women in rural areas can wait up to six weeks for an appointment, often travelling hundreds of kilometers for basic healthcare. In some areas, there are no doctors taking new patients at all.
  
• Menopause symptoms can last up to 10 years. That’s a decade of dealing with a vast range of symptoms that can change over time. A single GP visit doesn’t even scratch the surface.

This investment announcement is a missed opportunity to create a scalable, sustainable system that actually works for women, no matter where they live. Instead of throwing money at an outdated GP-first model, we need to flip the healthcare pyramid, keeping doctors focused on what they do best while leveraging technology and multidisciplinary care to triage and scale impact.

This already exists – we’ve built it and this is what it looks like.

1. Technology-First Intake: Get GPs Out of Admin Work
   
   Too often, valuable GP time is consumed on admin, taking medical histories, running through symptom lists, explaining basic menopause concepts. In 2025, surely we can do better to share the load?
   
   Instead, patients start with a digital health platform (like Metluma’s app), which captures a patient’s medical history, menopause symptoms, and personal goals, whether that’s relief from acute symptoms, better sleep, or long-term bone and heart health.
   
   This means doctors and nurses already know what’s important to the patient before they jump on their telehealth consult, making care faster, more efficient, and more personalised.
   
   
2. Empowered Patients, Informed Nurses
   
   Knowledge is power. Instead of attending an appointment unprepared, patients enter their consult already equipped with foundational menopause knowledge and a better understanding of their personal situation via an easy-to-use app:
   
   • Menopause 101 – What’s happening to my body?
   • Symptom guides – What’s normal, and what’s not?
   • UMA40 symptom tracker – Providing an understanding of their symptom load
   • Key questions to ask – How do I advocate for myself?
     
     Meanwhile, doctors and nurses review patient data in advance, ensuring each consultation is targeted, meaningful, and efficient.
     
     
3. Compassion-First Care
   
   Women want to feel seen and heard – it’s not just about the clinical advice.
   
   That’s why patients first consult with an empathetic nurse who listens to their concerns, gathers additional data, and determines if further tests are needed. This creates space for real conversations, without the pressure of a five-minute GP appointment.
   
   
4. Medical Expertise Where It Matters
   
   Once a patient has had a thorough nurse consult, they meet with a doctor for tailored treatment planning (MPlan).
   
   This safe, effective and efficient use of technology and a multi-disciplinary team enables the GP to focus entirely on treatment, ensuring patients get precise, evidence-based care faster.
   
   
5. Ongoing Support & Remote Monitoring
   
   A one-and-done GP appointment is useless if there’s no follow-up, and in an unscalable solution like the traditional GP-first pyramid, accessibility escalates into a slippery slope of pain as more and more appointments pile in. Digital health enables an approach that includes a comprehensive care plan that doesn’t add further burden to an already stretched primary care system. In fact, in research we conducted with Western Sydney University (funded by the Digital Health CRC), the high-touch, high-tech model was validated to improve the control-cure subscale, with 100% of participants saying that they would recommend the service. Metluma’s proven ongoing support and monitoring approach includes:
   
   • UMA40+Meno-D – A self-reported symptom tracker that provides insight into a broader symptom load
   • A 12-week action plan – Designed by doctors that is focused, personalised, and achievable.
   • Optional Remote monitoring – Wearable data to track progress in real time.
   • Asynchronous support – Quick check-ins and questions answered without waiting weeks for an appointment.
   • Doctors/Nurse appointments when needed – Decades of experience show us that 90% of women need three appointments in the 12 weeks, not just one.
     
     
6. Continuous Care, Not a One-Off Check
   
   Healthcare is a journey, not a single appointment. After 12 weeks, patients review their progress, refine their treatment, and make adjustments as needed, ensuring they’re supported through every stage of menopause.

A Smarter Investment for Women’s Health

If the government truly wants to support women’s health, it needs to ditch the outdated GP-first model and invest in digital health solutions that bridge care gaps and scale access nationwide.

👎 Current plan: One GP visit, no follow-up, no long-term strategy.
👍 Metluma’s model: Tech-enabled, nurse-led, GP-supported, ongoing care.

Our response is simple – the healthcare system is failing midlife women. Throwing money at an unscalable GP model won’t change that. If we want real impact, we need real innovation.

It’s time to flip the pyramid, and with half a billion dollars on the table, please, dear Government, at least build a smarter future for menopause care.