WHO SHALL PAY?

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 71, 18 December 1918, Page 6

WHO SHALL PAY?

DOCTORS AND .INFLUENZA , PATIENTS.

■Whilst an energetic and vory businesslike committee under Mr. Davidson (late Chief Accountant to the Railway Department) is wrestling with the general accounts in connection with the recent epidemic, another problem concerning finance has presented itself to those connected with the executive duties. It Will be remembered that after the first few black days of the scourge it became apparent that if the modical men were not disposed in some order time there would be a great denl of overlappim;, and probably u higher rate of .mortality. There was a clear domand that the city should be blocked, and so many doctors allotted to each block, working in with the different group organisations. How well that scheme worked out is now a matter of history. Lists of cases were prepared for the medical men at cncii centre, and these were taken up regularly by tho medical men and attended to. Now that the epidemic has died down and people, have time to look round the question arises, Who is to pay the medical man? There were, of course, thousands of caaee attended to during the three weeks' currency of the epidemic, and the majority of these cases were attended to through the group organisations, whicu were admonished to spare no reasonable expense. Now arises the question as to the manner in winch the doctors will collect the fees so well earned. As there are instances on record where people havo refused to pay for medial attention received through tho group organisations, the question becomes a problem, as some with thin consciences can say.' now that they are quite well again, that they did not order a doctor. One of tho lending members ot tno medical profession, who did conspicuouslv good work during the distressful time, stated, when consulted yesterday, that the doctors had been too busy so far to meet and discuss the position, but he assumed that those who could afford to pay for the medical attention received would be individually liable, and in the case of those whoso circumstances were I such, that they could not afford to pay the accounts would be forwarded to the Health Department. That was the course ho. would advocate. Indeed it seemed to him the only feasible one' to take, lie anticipated that in some districts the proportion of those unable to pay,was greater than in others, but because of that the medical men who worked so hard in those districts should not be permitted to suffer. Every decent person who could pay should pay. There was no question about that, arid he,, personally, intended to render an account to all .whom he considered to be in a ..position to pay. Such people should not be permitted to impose a burden on the State. On the other hand, it was only too apparent that many could not pay, and.in such cases the State should step in and pay the fees so justly earned.