"HIGH COST OF HEALTH.”

Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1930, Page 6

"HIGH COST OF HEALTH.”

The “liiglr cost of health” is becoming a grave problem to people of mod;.., erate means, not because of the multiplicity of charges for many thing’s that now seem necessary tor every, operation or, illness (says the “Times”). '•Drasticremedies' have been proposed. . Oi|b suggestion is State control. To isa# the medical; profession from any such “socialisation”’ the organised doctors of America are urged to -take the bull by the horns and establish then;; own medical centres for rich ;,::and

poor. Such is the remedy proposed by Dr Malcolm L. Harris of Chicago, retiring president of the American Medical Association, at the opeping session of tjiat body’s recent, convention at- Detpit. “Medicine is being besieged on every side by forces that are constantly growing stronger and .stronger,”. Dr Harris, “and unless; some dlfeirtsive effort is made to break* the siege, the profession,• must eventually capitulate, become socialised, and lk> ptne ees of the State.”. * ’

Dr H'aiTia suggested .that American meclicaL societies incorporate or organise'for. business purposes and establish medical. centres, owned, controlled and. managed by the societies themselves. These societies woukl. provide all those unable t'o pay regular fees with'the most advanced type of medical treat-' ment, at,prices commensurate of medical treatment.

As “an actual illustration of what may be expected to hapoen of its own business,” Dr Harris cited the) formation of ; the Public Medical Service. Association in England, which aims at establishing a universal vice'-by the Government, available,-to the entire population, irrespective of ability to pay. A hill to this effect has already been introduced m the House of Commons and it is admitted that the movement will he opposed by the medical profession. But when the legislation. Is passed the profession will have to how to the inevitable, as it did when the National Health In--surance Act was passed. “The idea is that is of such vital national importance that the question of one’s ability-.to pay should neverarise,-” said Dr Harris, in explaining the motives behind the British proposal; “Here is an actual illustration of what may-be expected to happen to the medical profession when it loses control of its own business.”

.Just as the British Medical Assoc-*' iation was fighting the socialisation of medicine in England so must medical societies in America seek to counteract the'movement in this country by voluntary co-operation, said Dr Harris according to the “Times” report, wjhich continues: “A.situation similai>|fp that ,in England confronts the medithil profession in Belgium and - Germany, where, as a result of legislation favofilini the noor classes, it is becoming-in-creasingly more difficult for physicians to make a living. Dr Harris said: ‘lt is, infinitely better to do thqke; thiggs. voluntarily than to be forced' to yield to coercion. It is unwise to put this matter off from year to year, while siege of medicine is drawing;.its Iffifi® tighter and tighter.’ ” ' •