Vicki Durston

Vicki Durston is an expert who has recommended that the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) should fund triptorelin, a drug that can be used to treat breast cancer, endometriosis, and gender dysphoria. This recommendation is significant because if adopted by the federal government, it would mark the first time gender-affirming care is funded by the PBS in Australia. The context for this discussion includes the upcoming withdrawal of Zoladex, another drug used for endometriosis and breast cancer treatment, manufactured by AstraZeneca, from the Australian market. This withdrawal raises concerns about the availability of treatments for women with these conditions. Durston's advocacy is therefore timely, addressing both the need for accessible gender-affirming care and potentially filling gaps in treatment options for other conditions.