The federal government is putting $7.45 million toward strengthening Victoria’s pelvic pain management.
GPs will be playing a central role in re-establishing trust between Victorian women and healthcare services following revelations about a former gynaecologist who potentially mistreated dozens of women with pelvic pain.
The commonwealth government has now released a $7.45 million funding package for the state, with part of that money going toward funding Primary Health Networks to establish care navigators.
Retired gynaecologist Dr Simon Gordon has been at the centre of mainstream media reporting since February, when he was named in separate investigations by Nine Newspapers and the ABC.
He is alleged to have billed Medicare for laparoscopic resection of severe endometriosis in cases where the patient’s pathology showed mild or no endometriosis.
Some women allegedly had their ovaries or uterus removed by Dr Gordon despite pathology repeatedly showing no signs of endometriosis.
These allegations have now been referred to Victoria Police.
Despite being subject to a number of AHPRA complaints, Dr Gordon never had any conditions placed on his registration prior to retiring in late 2025.
Even though Dr Gordon was not a GP, health minister Mark Butler specifically invoked general practice in his funding announcement.
“Since these allegations came to light, I have met with some of the impacted women and we have heard their calls for help to access care and support,” he said.
“That is why a network of care navigators is central to the commonwealth’s $7.45 million package, giving affected women tailored assistance to navigate the health system.
“The commonwealth is also working on strengthening general practice and gynaecology workforces to ensure the highest standards of care.”
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While the details are yet to be released, The Medical Republic understands that this work could potentially involve the development of clinical guidelines for pelvic pain management or support for GPs working in the endometriosis space.
“GPs were shocked when we read and watched the reporting on this issue,” RACGP president Dr Michael Wright told TMR.
“As medical practitioners, it was hard to read those women’s stories and not wonder how this could have happened; and happened for so long after clinicians and patients made multiple complaints to AHPRA.”
Dr Wright said the college had worked with the government to ensure that Dr Gordon’s former patients have access to appropriate care.
“Investments by the federal government to ensure GPs and other health and medical practitioners have appropriate resources and education to manage endometriosis are very welcome,” he said.
“We’ll be collaborating with RANZCOG so best practice care and services for women with endometriosis are much more widely available.”
