THE DOCTORS' REVOLT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1501, 25 July 1912, Page 5

THE DOCTORS' REVOLT.

INSURANCE ACT, NEGOTIATIONS. By Telesraph—Press Association—Copyrieht London, July 23. The British Medical Association at Liverpool approved tho rupture of negotiations with the Government over the Insurance Act; and also that no members should servo on the Advisory Committees in England and Ireland. "A GIGANTIC FRAUD." . (Rec. July 21, 10.15 p.m.) London, July 21. Thousands of farmers are passively resisting the Insurance Act. Sir James Barr, president of the British Medical Association, in addressing tho association at Liverpaol, described • the Insurance Act as'the most gigantic fraud since the South Sea Bubble. An invitation lias been given the association to meet in New Zealand in 1911. WHAT THE DOCTORS WANT. A rumour was current this morning (wrote tho London correspondent of tho"Manchester Guardian" oil June 11) that an agreement had bcon arrived at between the doctors and the Insurance Commissioners, by which the former were to receive a capitation feo of Bs. 6d. a head, including drugs. This has since been repudiated by the British Medical Association, and is, in fact, incorroct. The facts a.re -?.s fV/IJov.-: It had I:°en laid down as an indispensable preliminary to any revision of the contract rate contemplated that tho doctors should themselves state a caso for an increased figure. At a meeting two days ago the doctors put in a memorandum in support of tho Bs. 6d. figure. This memorandum, however, was felt by the Commissioners, and admitted on examination by tho doctors themselves, to give away their case, and the meeting/broke up in order that tho doctors .might adduce some .further evidence, particularly from practitioners in the North. lam informed that the figures as produced b.v tho doctors proved to give every general practitioner (including juniors, but excluding specialists) an income of j2G7O per annum—and that not including tho 5,000,000 people who arc estimated to remain as patients ontsido tho insurance scheme. It is unlikely that any definite decision will bo conic to for somemonths yet. The ilntc on which the Act is to-come into operation lias r.o importance in relation to this nupstion, as the medical henofits do not begin until next year. If it were' settler! in November it would be time enough.