TUBERCULOSIS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10288, 24 May 1919, Page 8

TUBERCULOSIS

POLICY OF GOVERNMENT,

DISEASE TO BE DEALT WITH ON NATIONAL BASIS.

Replying to .a deputation which waited upon him to urge the establishment of a consumptive sanatorium in South Canterbury, the Hon. G. »• Russell, Minister for Public Health, made- a statement as to the Government's policy in dealing: with tuberculosis. • Ho said that the problem of dealing with consumption divided itself into two main sections: those cases that could be cured, and those that were incurable. He regretted that, in almost all the hospitals, when thej found a patient to bo incurable he was turned out. That was a national disaster, because the patient was left to end his days in misery, and in danger of infecting others. The policy ha. had laid down was, that there should be institutions for treating the disoa*e in it* early stages, and, above all, that the patients should be got hold of at the earliest possible stage, so that 1 thero would be a chance,-of curing them. Further, there should bo establishments, one in the North, and one in the South Island, whore incurables could spend their last days in comfort, and without danger to others. He "Was prepared to accept the deputation's request, and affirm that there should be some institution in Waitaki or South Canterbury for treating the consumptives from the South Canterbury and North Otago districts. It would ..be the duty of the local authorities to pay half the cost of tho land and buildings, and the maintenance would fall entirely upon the hospital district involved. So far as tho national sanatoria wore concerned, also, the hospital boards would require to bo charged for the patients admitted from their districts It would be for tne experts of tho department to select what would bo tho most suitable site, and the Government could not commit itself until * further inquiry had been made.

Dr Valintine, Chief Hoalth Officer, also addressed tfco deputation, and emphnsised tho objections to having a multitude of sanatoria. Good administrators of stich institutions were very fow; he knew of only one first-class administrator in the Dominion now. Since the public health measures had

improved consumption had decreased. The disease was showing a very marked decrease over the whole Dominion every year.