Kat THEOPHANOUS (Northcote): Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in Australia, and for women, heart attacks are the biggest killer, at a rate four times higher than breast cancer. This week the Andrews Labor government took an important step towards ensuring better health outcomes for Victorians with the opening of Australia’s first dedicated heart hospital. Opening its doors to patients today, the hospital will integrate clinical services with vital research that will benefit generations to come. It will also play a leading role in training the doctors, nurses and other health professionals that will see us into the future.

As Parliamentary Secretary for Women’s Health, this milestone takes on particular significance. We know that women are currently more likely to be misdiagnosed, less likely to receive appropriate tests and treatment, have worse outcomes for heart operations and are more likely to die of cardiovascular disease. Why? The answer is complex but goes to the pervasive blind spots that still permeate our health system when it comes to women’s bodies, our symptoms and the recognition of our pain. An anatomical bias towards men has historically sidelined women in medical research, meaning treatment protocols are largely based on male bodies.

The patient journey for women can be convoluted and distressing, with big delays in being believed, diagnosed and treated. But here in Victoria we are working to change that. Labor will open 20 dedicated women’s health clinics, expand the Royal Women’s and establish a women’s health research institute. Today our new heart hospital takes us a step further to transforming and saving lives and cementing Victoria as a world leader in medical research.