HEALTH INSURANCE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 37, 27 February 1937, Page 12

HEALTH INSURANCE

-Presa isjioclation.)

Medical Men'a Attitude . to Idea • • NOT NEEDED FOR ALL j

(By Telesrraph-

WELLINGTON, Laet Night. A special meeting of the National .Health Insurance Committee of fhe New Zealand branch of the Medical Assoeiation was held to-day and its report submitted by the chairmau, Dr. J. P. S. Jamieson, was adopted. The proceedings were taken in camera, but in a etatement, Mr T. Dq •M. Stout, president of the conference,* , said the delegates felt that any scheniei . embracing a large seetion of the com-: jmunity wua nqither necessary nor de-i isirable. Adequate provision, however,' pf a full' health service should be nxade( available to those people not able to make fimancial provision for it them-. pelves. "We shall act, though, in the fullest eollaboration with the Government in its efforts to provide this service," he' concluded. Portions of the report were releasedj for publicatiou and were as follow:— i *'By all means let the State ensure that j no necessary medical service Shall be| unattainable by anyone from the reason! of lack of ability to pay for it, andj by all means let the heavier costej he soj ctinpladl1

flnaacla|ly by ^jor galamil^' qf ffel* • neSs,' biit lefive to thbse w%o jj|«i f thpir owd costs, the resppnsibility of meeixng n'eeds in ibcir own fky an3* to th'eir* own" satisfaction, apd let the' State 'coucefn jtself mpre paxticu* X IhTly in bnilding' a healthy, yirile race, W^ich cann'ot be doqe by ninning to ihe ' doctor apd leaning on |he Statp, but b'y education in disease pyeveutioa afid encouragement apd self-relience. "Havipg obtained the feeliug ef tb#; jprofession and haying answered th# V Government *s questionnnxre, o?al evidSpce was put before thq Goveyumept 's iavestigation committee, Thp record ofthie proceedings is pot #yfilfblf fdr 7 PUblication but it may- b® steted jthatwe- were informed that the Government; has not as yet any definitely formed' plays and looks to the prpfession for! assBstafice, ahd . will afford furtheri eppcrtunity for discussion. • ^The Gcivernnxent, we were tpld, does not oofitemplate any scheme wiiicfi wiU , reacts detrimeutally on tbe profe^ion . either as 'regards its earnings op Its profession-al stapdards." ' ; Th® following officers were elepted at] ^ the anmual brabch'meetiug:-— Pr§sid,ent> ' '' jamieson (Wellington) ; cnaxrman of the council, Dr. G. F. Anson (Wellington) ; executive, Drs. T. D. M. Stonit, T. f. Corkill, H. Ef ©Jbbs a (Wellington); hon; general secrqtary, V Dr. P. P. Lynch (Wellington); editor , of the jomrnal, Dr. 8. D. Bhind (Wel*! Engton); niembers of the council, Sif) Donald Mc;Gavin (Wellington), Dr, fj ' Hardie Neil ^Auckland), and D& iP. Xi Herens,