DOCTORS' PANELS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1641, 7 January 1913, Page 5

DOCTORS' PANELS.

I AN OPPOSITION MOVE. CALLING UP FUNDSWAR CHEST OP $200,000. Or TelezTapn-Preia Association—Copyriiu) .(Roo. January 6,11.15 p.m.) London, January E. , QJho Medical Association is calling up JMO.OOO of its defence fund of .6200,000, hoping to prevent further doctors joining the panels. Out of CSOO doctors in London, one-tenth havo joined tho panels. WHAT THE ACT PROVIDES. The amended oiler' which Mr. LloydGeorge mado to the doctors in respect of sorvico under the sickness provisions of tho National Insurance Act provided for the payment to the,doctor of.seven shil lings per annum for eaoh insured perron, including extras and tuberculosis cases: Is. 6d. for drugs; and Cd, as an additional payment for drugs if the Is. Cd. is exceeded, failing which the Cd. passes to tho doctors. This makes a total of 9s. a head, or 2s. Cd. per insured person more than was originally proposed. In addition, there is a central fund for enidemics involving an. abnormal demand for drugs. Tho doctors, in return for the increased payment, are asked to issuo'certificates to • enablo insured persons to secure sickness or disablement bonoflt; they hove to keep records of patients and of illnesses; and tho Insuranco Commissioners aro responsible for a heightened standard of treatment and for a surer diagnosis, Tho Chancellor; of the Exchequer outlined a scheme, for a national medical sorvice if the more liberal terms he offered to the doctors were not accepted. Applying the idea to. a town of two hundred thousand inhabitants, ho 6aid, "At the head of tho sorvice would bo a principal, medical officer, who would 'bo responsible for tho working of tho service, and would bo not- only a' skilled physician, thoroughly competent to, supervise and appreciate tho work-of his subordinates, but also a highly effioient administrator. Immediately under him would,bo a staff of skilled specialists, whp would help the general practitioners of tho sorvico in any case of difficulty, Then would come the genoral practitioners of tie service, of whom some would bo junior practitioners, I and others senior practitioners of wide j experience. Theso would work on an organised system, proper provision being mado for night calls and other emergencies, and they would-be assisted by an efficient staff of nurses. Their work would be done under competent supervision, and they would be able promptly to wcure skilled assistance in cases of difficulty. Such a service would naturally work, in closo co-operation with the public health authority and tho education authority." Tho Administration of the medical benefits'under the Act is in the hands of local insurance,committees on which the medioal profession is represented. , , • BREWERY EMPLOYEES RE-ENGAGED By Telegraph—Press Aai6clation-Gosyrish) London, January 5: ' In consequence of the Insurance Aot, Guinoss's Brewery has dismissed 4000 employees, and re-engaged them on condition, that sick allowances aro purely gratuitous. In granting future benefits account will be taken of the national insurance,