MEDICAL SERVICE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 August 1941, Page 4

MEDICAL SERVICE

AGREEMENT ON PRINCIPLE DESIRED

STATEMENT BY MR NASH TO B.M.A. DEPUTATION.

BILL TO BE INTRODUCED

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day.

A statement that the Government would “pretty well agree to anything” to achieve the co-operation of the doctors in putting a universal general medical, practitioner scheme, into operation immediately was made by the Acting-Prime /Minister, Mr Nash, yesterday.

The Government, Mr Nash said,, wanted agreement on principle, after which decision could be made on one of three formulae, capitation, fee-for-service, or salary. Mr Nash was addressing a deputation from the council of the New Zealand division of the British Medical Association, which, at the request of the Government, waited on him and the Minister of Health, Mr Nordmeyer. The principle of a Bill which provides for fee-for-service and which will probably be introduced on Wednesday was discussed. Later the council met to appoint a committee to discuss details with the Minister and the Director-General of Health.

Mr Nash said he thought there might still be an opportunity—and he hoped there was—of working co-operatively with the doctors. He, personally, hated the idea of coercion, even if it was practicable. Fee-for-service was provided for in the Bill prepared by Mr Nordmeyer. “The proposal is to introduce the Bill,” Mr Nash said. “It is no use considering delaying action. Wo have discussed it and worked it out for a long time. We would sooner have agreement than anything else and we will still refer it to the Health Committee, and if you still desire at that point you can give evidence on the provisions of the Bill. Sir Donald McGavin said he was afraid that the deputation could not entirely agree with what Mr . Nash had said. The profession’s view was that if a change was to be made it should be left till after the war. Two hundred doctors were serving overseas and others were employed on military work. It was not fair that arrangements ' should be made on which the doctors overseas cpuld not be consulted. “We are as anxious as the Government to come to some arrangement that is mutually satisfactory,” said Sir Donald. He claimed that in proportion to its numbers, the medical profession was doing more in the war than any other section .of the community and all those overseas were volunteers. The profession did not feel that the suggestion of coercion was very appropriate.