NATIONAL HEALTH

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20737, 22 February 1939, Page 10

NATIONAL HEALTH

SCHEME NOT FAVOURED AMERICAN SURGEON’S VIEWS "INCREASES DAYS OF ILLNESS" (By Telegraph.—Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday An American surgeon, Dr. Edward 11. Oschner, of Chicago, who, after investigating national health schemes in Europe, particularly in Germany, wrote a book entitled “Social Insurance and Health Security," said on his arrival in Christchurch to-day that he was very much against such national health schemes and had stated his objections in his book. “I spent two years in Europe principally in Germany, investigating'health schemes,” said Dr. Ochsner, “and I based my conclusions on actual statistics. First of all. the most serious objection is the increase in malingering. A national health scheme increases the days of illness. I have actual proof of this from Germany, based on figures. A national health scheme increases the cost of medical care, hut it does not decrease mortality or the morbidity (the number of days of sickness). It also interferes with confidential personal relations between the physician and his patient. Increasing Costs "The effect of such schemes is that people run to physicians with trivial complaints to such an extent, that, the physician is so worn out with trivialities that he could not give the serious attention to really sick people that ho ought to give. “These are the. main reasons for my objections to the schemes—they do not decrease mortality or morbidity and they increase cost." j Dr. nehsner was asked if his con- \ elusions had been disputed. He saidrj “No. They are based on actual stalis- ' lies." He was also asked if he had any comments to make on medical practice or hospital facilities in New Zealand. He said “No I have been in New Zealand only four days, hut I attended the medical conference to-day and found it very interesting and instructive." j