THE MEDICAL SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1918, Page 5

THE MEDICAL SERVICE.

APPOKTAIEX'TS FOR MIUTARI DOCTOKS. During the nest twelve months the shortage of doctors that has existed in Xew Zealand will be relieved by the return of mora than 200 medical men at present on service with the Expeditionary Force. The nodical officers who left Hew Zealand for active service have begun to return already. They are arriving with every transport carrying returned men, and they will be made available for civilian prictic.e as quickly as possible. It :s the intention of the Defence Department end the Public Health Department that the medical men who have served with the 'Expeditionary Fores shall have firs,t claim on til public appointment". Health officers, medical superintendents, subsidised medical men, Bn! «o forth will be recruited ss far as possible from the ranks of the doctors who have worn the Kind's uniform. Many of these miltary doctorp laid down practices when they entered the force? and it is impossible for them to recover their old connection after lon. l absence. Many sv.<r?est;or.s have been made lately that the Government should organise the .nedicsl service, and also the dental service, on a national baeis. It dno- not appear that the Government, for the at ar.y rate, contemplates ar.y comprehensive schemes on these line*, but the proposals made in the Tubhe Health Amendment Bill, passed during the recent session, foreshadow in creased emplovmrnt, of medical men by the State and the municipalities. The military tkr.til organisation will remain in crirtenoa during the demobilisation period. ;-il r.-.isgestions are being made alrc-ady that it should he continued, on a r.on-Tr.ilita-v b.-.r-is, r.s an imjorict of the Public TTealth Department end the Education Department