Monash Health, one of Victoria's largest hospitals, will change its policies to allow patients to demand female-only care after a Muslim woman wearing a full-length niqab complained of discrimination.

Ziarata Zia, who believes it is a sin to be seen without a niqab or be touched by a man other than her husband or immediate family, lodged a complaint at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal following an antenatal visit at a Monash clinic two years ago, The Age reports.

Ms Zia resolved the matter before a hearing and was involved in a review of the hospital's policies by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.

The commission found that Monash's policy was to tell pregnant patients who wanted to see a female midwife or doctor for "culture or personal reasons" that this was not possible and they should seek care elsewhere instead.

Monash will now change this policy to give priority to requests from women for a female doctor because of religious beliefs, cultural concerns or past trauma.

Same-gender care will also be available to men.

Victoria Legal Aid lawyer Melanie Schleiger said the new policy will benefit not just Muslim women but people who have experienced torture, family violence and sexual abuse.

Ms Zia, who moved from Afghanistan to Melbourne in 2010 and who does not speak English, said in a statement she was no longer scared to ask for a female doctor.

"Healthcare is really important to me and my family but so are my religious beliefs. I don't want to be forced to choose between them," she said.