MEDICAL BENEFITS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 March 1941, Page 7

MEDICAL BENEFITS

GOVERNMENT SCHEME FORTY-NINE DOCTORS JOIN UP. MINISTER PLEASED WITH ’ RESPONSE (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. The announcement that 49 doctors in various parts of New Zealand had so far agreed to provide treatment under the medical benefit scheme of the Social Security Act was made last night by the Minister of Health. Mr. Nordmeyer. in an interview. The progress of the scheme up to the present was described by the Minister as being "well up to the Government's expectations." The Government, he said, had no doubt that the foundation of the universal practitioner service at last had been firmly and permanently laid, and that every day would bring information of additional doctors who wore recognising the value of the scheme in maintaining and improving the health of the community.

COUNTRY DISTRICTS' RESPONSE.

Generally speaking, the response of doctors in country districts was great er than that from urban practitioners the Minister said. The number compared very favourably with the number of doctors who had agreed to operate the maternity benefit in the corresponding time after its inception. In the first three weeks after the announcement of the maternity benefits, 23 practitioners had come under the scheme. “Under the medical benefits scheme, gwhich is less than three weeks old. double that number of doctors have agreed to give service, in spite of the fact that the number of practitioners available to operate it has. because of the war. been considerably diminished and that some doctors who had accepted contracts under the original maternity scheme are serving with the forces.” Mr. Nordmeyer said. MATERNITY SCHEME. “Incidentally. I would like to say here that the suggestion that the Maternity Benefits Scheme, which now receives such praise from doctors, is altogether different from that originallv propounded by the Government will not bear close examination. _ _ The progress of the general practitioner scheme up to the present is. in view of the official opposition of the British Medical Association, well up to the Govemment’s expectations. Some of the doctors who had signed card's were practising in districts which, because of their isolated situation. or for some other reason, were not altogether suitable for the operation of the ordinary scheme, the Minister said. Tn ihose cases the Social Socuritv Act and the regulations gave him discretion to make whatever arrangements were thought best to provide a general practitioner service foi the people in those districts. The arrangements which he had made for special areas naturally varied according to the local circumstances. MEETING OBJECTIONS.

“T am confident that if the profession looks carafullv into the existing Medical Benefits Regulations, it will discover that its objections have been largely met. For example, the profession has maintained stoutly that it would not. agree to a service which provided for every person in the community. The amendment to the Social Security Act introduced last year enables the Gvernment to offer the individual doctor complete freedom of choice in connection with his patients. In other words, he can set his own standard. “Tn thus conceding what the British Medical Association was clamouring for last year, the Government has gone as far as can reasonably be expected tn meet the objection of the profession.” The doctor was dependent on public goodwill. Mr. Nordmeyer said, and if the people of New Zealand took steps to make it clear to their practitioners that thev wanted the general practitioner scheme, the co-operation of the doctors would soon follow. Apart from the growing force of public opinion against the medical men in their attitude, there was also the economic factor’ He was informed that many persons were taking up the attitude that as the Government had offered to pay the doctors generously for their services, the individual patient could not be rightly expected to pay the account. , ... “It is likely that this attitude will grow.” the Minister concluded, “and many of those doctors who are foolish enough to remain out of the scheme for any length of time may suffer seriously in consequence.”