TRAINING OF DOCTORS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2686, 4 February 1916, Page 3

TRAINING OF DOCTORS

DEARTH CAUSED BY THE WAR MINISTER ON THE POSITION WORK OF HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

The Hon. G. W. Russell, the Minister of Public Health, in a statoment to a reporter yestercloy referred to the dearth of doctors in New Zealand as the outcome of the war, and to the important matter of the training of medical men for the special work of the Public Health Department. "As Minister of Public Health," said .Mr. Russell, "I was deeply interested in the proceedings of tho University Senate in connection with its efforts to meet the dearth of dootors, and I noted with much appreciation the steps that are being taken to assist medical studen. tsif the Otago University to secure their diplomas at the earliest possible moment.

"Owing to the war and the largo number of medical men who have left 'New Zealand for army service in the British forces, as well as those who have gone with our own forces and are engaged' in military operations, tlie dearth of dootors is being seriously felt, end applications are inristently coming to the Department from the-back-blocks for medical men —lyhich we cannot meet. The steps that are being taken by the Senate will, I trust, ease the situation. "A few days ago I received a letter from an American University stating that a number of graduates of that institution were considering tlio desirability of emigrating to New Zealand, and asking for information in regard to our la,w of registration, and particulars of the country itself.. These details have been supplied. 1 "I am pleased to notice that the University emphasises public health and medical jurisprudence so pointedly in the committee's recommendation for the third professional examination. As the country grows, the necessity of increasing the number of medical officers of the Public Health Department will, become more pronounced. We are about to look for young doctors to act as understudies to tho medical officers located by the Department'at the chief centres of population.. Tlie work of the Public Health Department is entirely distinct from the ordinary medical practice, although the necessity for the medical diploma is absolute. The Health Department desires to train medical men for its special work, by obtaining young men to enter its service/and gain experience of the many departments that is necessary in a public health officer. As the country develops, towns at which the Department is represented by a lay inspector will thus be provided with medical officers, and' the Department will grow in importance as tlie efficiency end scientific attainments of its officers aro raised. "Another aspect which I think the University might well consider would be in connection with the supply of medical men of special qualifications for the mental hospitals. A number of our young men have already left the mental hospitals for military service; and here again the pressure is becoming somewhat acute. The Mental Hospitals Department .is naturally desirous of training its own medical officers, and this lias been successfully accomplished in tho past, some of the young men in the Department's service having already risen to hi#' and 1 , responsible positions. It. must, however, be apparent that if- we can secure young doctors who have, during their traim'rvj, specialised in mental- diseases, it .wouli be of great advantage to tho Department, and the Government is prepared to give whatever assistance may be necessary to men who are desirous of in that class of medical work after being ; approved by tho Inspector-General."