HOSPITAL SUPPLIES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10606, 3 June 1920, Page 6

HOSPITAL SUPPLIES

QUESTION OF IMPORTATION,

WHO SHOULD OBTAIN THE GOODS.

The question of importing its own supplies of hospital requisites, has been discussed at Hospital Board meetings on many occasions. The annual outlay on this head is very, heavy, and while some boards have been debating tho question others have been obtaining snipments ot drugs and other necessary supplies and scientific appliances direct from the manufacturers through buying agents in England. The difficulty in the past has been the securing of co-operation in the matter, and the centre from where the supplies shall be distributed.

The desirability of furthering the proposal so that all hospitals may bene;it was brought forward yesterday at the conference of hospital boards’ delegates when the following resolutions were submitted: A Wairoa delegate moved ‘ That ad supplies required m connection with the maintenance and upkeep of hospitals be procured by the Department of Hospitals and Charitable Aid for distribution amongst various hospitals/’ Taranaki submitted a remit as follows on the same subject“ That tho Hospitals Department formulate a scheme for the purchase and distribution to hospital boards of supplied in general use’’; and Thames: “’that this beard urge upon the Government to make suitable arrangements for coal supplies for all hospitals in tho Dominion.” Mr Killick, tho departmental secretary, said that the Government had made arrangements for the supply of a certain amount of drapery. The Rublie Works Department had stores in tho seaport centres, and the goods were to-be stored in those centres. Tho remits occasioned considerable discussion. It was generally admitted that it wa s in the interests of boards to import their own supplies, but it was an open ciuestion if the department could import as well as tho largo hospital boards if they co-operated lor tbo purpose, and distributed supplies to tbo smaller institutions. Mr Fraser (Taranaki) said that ho did not approve of tho department, purchasing supplies, as it could not do it as well and as cheaply as private firms. A private firnj had a buyer in London who purchased the goods required, collected them, and shipped them on the one bill of lading. On the other hand tho department experts in London would tag each separate order and send them out, which would increase tho expense. ~ _ Dr Valintino said that the Government entrusted its buying to experts, who purchased goods for the Public Works Department.' An Auckland delegata said that his board and tho people of Auckland would bo opposed to the Government purcliasing all supplies for hospitals and tho supplies pooled, but every facility should bo given in tho matter of co-operation of obtaining supplies on tho part of tho hoards. It was pointed out, that several boards had procured their own supplies of drugs and had effected a saving of from 40 to 50 per cent. A North Canterbury delegate said that his board had effected a largo saving in tho purchase of crockery by importing direct. Tho remits were carried on the vole"’