Australian Doctors And Health Scheme

Chronicle (Levin), 1 March 1949, Page 5

Australian Doctors And Health Scheme

SYDNEY, Peo. 28... Faeed- with the refusal of the British Medieal Association to eoopefate in either the firee medicine or nation a! health schemes, the Federal Government is believed to be contemplating nevv nieasures designed to ensure the functioning of both systems. In this decision the Government reveals con c-ern at. the possible reaetion of the people who are paying in ls 6d in-the pound as a social se'rvices c6ntribution,' apart from income tax. The freq medicine scheme has been in bperation some time but only a few doctors have shown themselves prepared to use it. Endeavouring to avoid the alleged pitfalls in the New Zealand scheme, thc Australian Government approved a system whereby prescriptions must foliow approved formulary and be entered 011 a special focjn in order to qualify for benefits. The doctors have refused to use the form or to confine their prescriptions to the formulary. At a conference of the Legion of Ex Servicemen in Perth, a raotion was tabled that the Commonwealth Govern me'nt be urged to get the pharmaceutieal benefits scheme working by arrangement with the doctors or alternatively to drop the social service contri bution. The proposal was ruled out on the ground that it was political but its appearance was an indication that tnany people are beginning to think that way. Australians are asking whv they should pay the chemists" bill and contributions colleeted by the Governirient to defray that bill. The health pharniaceutical benefits fund was expected to cost £2,000,000 Lhis financial year but in eight months tlie aetual cost has been £28,000. The uational health plan is expected to cost £1 0,000,000 in the full- year but, judgaig by the attitude q| * the .^oetc^'s^ thei. actual paymeuts^jjv^f^be ^hiilarlj^cur?. tailed. The pec^tg^ave- hden paying' the social services contribution nearly three years and the welfare fund is now £74,000,000 in credit. Political correspondents believe the Minister of Health, Mr. X. E. MeKenna, lost much prestige with the Party and people when in the House ot Representatives last week he threatencd the doctors with legal proeeedings if they did not cooperate. It is suggested that "this was nierelv an attempt to promote further discussion after other suggestions, including the training oi young doctors, importation of foreign medicos and the launching of a propaganda campaign against the Hritisb Medieal Association failed to fill the Bill. A considerable section of thc Labour caucus is believed to be averse to starting a diiect fight with the doctors particularly as, when introducing the Pharniaceutical Benefits Bill 1947, Mr. McKenna said: "There will be no ^ compulsion on medieal practitioners or pharmaceutical ehemms to take part in the scheme." Now another alternative is being tried. The Government, whieh foy Mi-; McKenna 's words, slammed the door in the face of further negotiation, has now/; invited the British Medieal Association to nominate three doctors to help revise and enlarge the disputed formulary. This is regarded by correspondents as signalling the end of the attempt to use legal t'orce.