SOCIAL SECURITY ACT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 December 1940, Page 8

SOCIAL SECURITY ACT

MEDICAL BENEFITS TO OPERATE EARLY IN NEW YEAR MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND. December 10. “I think that in the end common sense will prevail and that the doctors i will be parties to the Government scheme,” said the Minister of Health, Mr Armstrong, this afternoon when discussing the attitude of the medical profession to the medical benefits provided under the amendment to the Social Security Act which was passed by Parliament last week. Mr Armstrong said he felt sure the doctors would show the same co-oper-ation as every other section of the community. Regulations had already been prepared and were now in the hands of the law draftsmen for oveihaul. “They will be ready for operation at any time and the scheme will soon be put into practice.” he said. Though not in a position ,to mention the date, the Minister said it would be early in the New Year, and it was proposed, also at an early date, to make out-patients’ services at hospitals free. There was a good deal of preliminary work to be done, including the appointment of additional staff and the provision of office accommodation. The Minister said he would like io see an agreement between the Government and the medical .profession, but if one was not arrived at it would make no diffeence as far as proceeding with the scheme was concerned. “I can say definitely that the public will get the service as soon as possible in the New Year/’ he added.