HEALTH SCHEME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 July 1938, Page 9

HEALTH SCHEME

PRIME MINISTER REPLIES TO B.M.A. PRESIDENT. REFUSAL OF CO-OPERATION DENIED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The statement by the president of the New Zealand Branch of the British Medical Association, Dr. J. P. S. Jamieson, that the Government had not sought the co-operation of the medical profession in advance in framing its health service proposals was referred to yesterday by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage. The Prime Minister said the facts seemed to him to prove, quite the contrary. “Two years ago this August,” said Mr Savage, “the Minister of Health set up the Health Insurance Investigation Committee, with Dr D. G. McMillan, M.P., as chairman, and it took evidence from medical men collectiveV and individually. Then a year ago last March Dr. McMillan journeyed around New Zealand visiting every village in the North Island and the main centres of the South Island. He discussed health insurance problems with the doctors and learned their individual and local problems. At one meeting at Nelson, at which Dr. Jamieson was present, one of the doctors said that if the Government tackled all legislation the thoroughness they were tackling’ health insurance great credit would be reflected on them.”

The Minister of Health and the Minister of Finance had held long and detailed discussions with the representatives of the medical profession, Mr Savage added, and the medical profession then g-ve abundant evidence to the Social Security Committee and discussed the problem at length. Not’ ing more cw’ •» oe done.