TUBERCULOSIS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12615, 27 November 1926, Page 10

TUBERCULOSIS

DOMINION SCHEME PROPOSED Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, November 26. - Tile Hospital Board received last night a long letter from Dr Ealconer, concerning the treatment of tuberculosis and the desirability of pooling all sanatoria, the cost of treatment to be borne by a special flat rate over the Dominion. He pointed out that the new Act making, as a “law of settlement, ,J three months’ residential qualification for admission to hospitals and sanatoria, instead of twelve months as previously, affected the financial position of the North Canterbury Hospital Board, the Otago Board, and the various hospital boards administering sanatoria »u the South Island. Incidentally the Dunediu Hospital was _ the hardest hit of all the central hospitals in the Dominion, the local ratepayers being called oil to carry an unfair burden in providing accommodation for patients, essentially, though not legally, residents of districts outside of the hospital board’s area. In order to carry out a Dominion scheme, he suggested that four district tuberculosis boards be set up and also a national board, having seven members representing the district hoards and three representing the Government. The last-named hoard would be responsible for the financial arrangements and also matters of policy. The matter was referred to a committee, and it was also decided to point out to the department the effect of the recent legislation in Otago.