THE INSURANCE ACT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 196, 8 January 1913, Page 5

THE INSURANCE ACT.

THE PANELS IMPROVING By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London. January 11. . Doctor* in many provincial districts arc joining tin* panels where they had previously refused.

The amended offer which Mr. LloydGeorge made to the doctors in respect' of -crvice under the sickness provisions of the National Insurance Act provided for the payment to the doctor of seven shillings per annum for each insured person, including extras ami tuberculosis cases; Is (id for drugs-, and (id as an additional payment for drugs if the Is Oil is exceeded. failing which the (id parses to the doctors. This makes a total of (Is a head or is (ill p,. r in-urni person more than was originally propose,l. |„ addition, there is a central fund for epidemics invohing an all'.■ ..■:11 demand for drugs. I he doctors, in return for the increased pax merit. are asked to is>ue certificates to enable insured persons to secure sickness or disablement benefit; they have to keep records of patients and of illnesses; and thi' Insurance Commissioners are responsible for a 'heightened standard of treatment and for a surer diagnose. The Chancellor of the Exchequer outlined a scheme for a national medical 5,. rv i,.,. if the more liberal terms he oflered to ihe doctors were not accepted. Applying ih,. bl,( 0 a town ot two hundred thousand inhabitants, lie said. "At (lie head of the service WollM lio :| m illcili i! ill,, ol IV ' 1 • " I'liin ip.ii lm-qjiTi nlhcrr. wn.i would be responsible fur ;.he working of the -civiie. and would be not only a. skilled phvsician. thoroughly compeienf to supervise m | appreciate'thc work of In- siiboi'dinat.c~. but aLo a highlv ef-Ij'-'eiit administrator. Immediately un,!l!" "'"Illil be a stall' of skilled' spec-i.-lp tin- genera I pr.-.c-titioiTers of lb,, service in any case of difficulty. Then would come the general practitioners of the service, of whom some would be junior practitioners. atid others senior practitioners of Hide experience. These would work on an organise,] system, proper provision being made for night calls and other emergencies, juid they would bp assisted by an efficient staff of nurses. Their Work would be done under competent supervision, and the v would be able promptly to secure skilled assistance in cases of difficulty. Such a service would naturally work in close co-operation with the public health authority and the' education authority." The 'administration of the medical benefits under flio Act is in the hands of local insurance committees on which the medical profession is represented.