INSURANCE ACT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1564, 7 October 1912, Page 5

INSURANCE ACT.

DOCTORS AND THEIR FEES.

Bγ Teleerapli-Press A6socintion-Copyrieat (Rec, October G, 5.5' p.m.) London, October 5. Mr. Lloyd-George, Chancellor of the Exchequer, presided over a conference of tho Insurance Act Advisory Committee, and explained that, the Government must shortly decide whether additional provision would havo to be nnulo to meet the cost of the medical benefits. The speakers at the conference concurred that nothing beyond Cs. per annum for each person insured could be paid under the Act, and that any increased provision must, come from the Imperial Exchequer.' The meeting favoured the organisation of the National Medical Service if it proved impossible to arrive at an agreement with the doctors. The regulations for administering tho medical benefits under tho Act remit the fixing of tho medical, remuneration to local committees, Over Gix thousand doctors have already resigned from societies.

TRENCHANT CRITICISM. A DOCTOR. WHO REFUSES TO RESIGN. Tho organisers of the British Medical Association's boycott of the National Insurance scheme will find it difficult (says the "Westminster Gazette") to shirk .the issues raised by Dr. C. Addison, in his letter declining to resign from the Advisory Committee. The writer prefaces his trenchant criticism of the association's attitude towards the Insurance Act with the remark that there are some things that are worth the most extreme measures, and •proceeds;—

"I; for one would use eveTy legitimate means both in Parliament and out in preventing the administration of the medical benefit fund of twelve millions of people being entrusted, to hundreds'of different societies; not simply because the medical professioli object thereto, but because it would be against* the best interests of tiro public health and would hinder the development of a co-ordinated and properly directed health service for the country. But what end do we serve by leaving the Advisory Committee? It seems to mo that it is our duty, by patient ami sensible effort, to strive to use our opportunity to secure that every medical man shall bo able to render a willing service under tho Insurance Act under honourable conditions and with proper reimnieration,*iand to seek to bring into working harmony the diverse aud frequently conflicting and insufficient elements of the medical services of the country." ■ Dr. Addison concludes by declaring that he is quite unable to understand the association's' "polfcy" in regard to various matters under tin Act, uor how the proceedings taking place at its instigation are likely to help the profession. "To my mind, indeed," he snys, "they are more likely to bring us into contempt. For the mt time in any civilised country the State is to encouraged by the advance of medical science that it is prepared to spend huge sums of money in an organised attempt to combat that; disease which causes more misery and ruin amongst us than any oth^r, , yet British ifedical Association is devoting its influence to prevent medical men from sharing in the guidance and administration of this great and beneficent enterprise; not because they objectto the enteipriee or to the method of its conduct, but because they have differences on other matters with the established authorities. Whnl a spectach it is for our fellow-countrymen." The- writer's final word is that he will take no part in a boycott of which ho is ashamed. ' . '