British National Health Plan Approved

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 64, 18 March 1944, Page 4

British National Health Plan Approved

MINISTERS OUTLINE PROPOSALS IN PARLIAMENT (British Official Wireless.) Received Friday, 9.20 p.m. RUGBY, March 16. The Government’s national health proposals will he the biggest single advance ever made in this country in the sphere of public health and the project dwarfs all previous ones in scope and conception, said the Minister of Health (Mr. H. U. Willink), open ing the Commons debate on the new national health plan. Mr. Willink said the object of the plan was national. It was to fit the nation for its great responsibilities and to free its members from the anxieties, burdens and pains of illbealth. It was no scheme for giving charity to individuals or State help to particular classes or groups. It did not concern itself with poverty or wealth. Ho explained that the method by which medical and health services would be paid for was going to be changed. Everyone would pay for service for everyone by taxation, rates and insurance contributions. Twentyseven per cent, of the costs of the service would be met by a contributory system, leaving 36 per cent, for rates. No one patient or doctor must be dragooned into any part of this service or any form of treatment unless they want to use it. “The Government believe there is no case for anything which could be reasonably called regimentation of the medical profession and they have no intention of seeking to establish a fullsalaried State medical service.” Doctors in the House rose to disagree when Sir Ernest Lille, himself a doctor, said: “Surely it is impossible to work a scheme when the majority of those who have to operate it are intensely resentful of the conditions imposed by it.” Mr. A. G. Wilkden (Labour) said the Labour Party and the Trade Union Congress welcomed the new proposals and would do their utmost to help the Minister to carry the scheme through. Members welcomed the scheme and the debate was adjourned. A similar debate took place in the Lords, where Lord Woolton moved a motion similar to Mr. Willink’s. By special arrangement Reuter’s world service, in addition to other specia* compilation of oversea intelligence published in this issue, and all rights therein in Australia and New Zealand are reserved.