MEDICAL BENEFITS

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21365, 8 March 1941, Page 8

MEDICAL BENEFITS

MINISTER’S OPTIMISM “SUFFICIENT DOCTORS ACCEPT” RESPONSIBILITY ON PEOPLE APPEAL TO TAKE OUT CARDS (By Telegraph.—l’rese Association) WELLINGTON, Saturday “I am now* in a position to state that although the medical benefits scheme has been in operation only a week, sufficient doctors are accepting patients under it to justify my complete confidence that a general practitioner service will soon be available to the whole population of New Zealand,” said the Minister of Health, the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer, in a statement at Nelson today concerning the medical benefits scheme of the Social Security Act.

“Accounts have been appearing in the press of resolutions passed by certain branches of the British Medical Association and reports of the few doctors who, it is alleged, will be taking patients under the scheme but these give an entirely false picture of the position.

Numbers of medical men, who are freely signing the cards, do not desire to have their names published with the result that the published statements of numbers or of names, does not reveal the actual extent to which medical benefits are already available.

“I cannot emphasise too much this fact, that a person should not wait until the name of the doctor whom he chooses is advertised. The only safe method of ascertaining whether he is signing cards and accepting patients under the scheme, is by personal enquiry. No Obligation Upon (Doctors “No notice should be taken of the resolutions or rumours and people should interview the doctor themselves in order to ascertain definitely whether or not he is willing to accept them .

“There is no obligation upon the doctors to advertise the fact that they are taking patients and consequently many people are depriving themselves of medical benefits through their failure to approach the doctor of their choice.

“I wish to appeal to everybody, and especially to people in good health, to take out cards,” adds thfe statement. “The success of this scheme requires those enjoying good health as well as those who are sick to sign-up and for their own sakes the public should obtain cards now while they are well. Rights of Doctors “There is no need for a doctor to accept any particular patient under the scheme and he will be quite within his rights if he refuses to give free treatment to those who sign their application cards only when they become ill. “I understand that some people require a number of cards for distribution. These should be obtained from the local Medical Officer of Health. Secretaries of trade unions and other organisations may obtain a bulk quantity on application to this officer.” Fuller Statement Later The Minister mentioned that the 15th of each month had been fixed as accounting day. This meant that doctors’ payment for March would be computed according to the number of people who were on his list on thisday.

It was desirable, therefore, that cards should be completed early so that doctors might have the utmost possible number of cards in the hands of the Medical Officer of Health by that date. He indicated that after the 15th of the month he would be in a position to make a statement concerning the actual number of doctors definitely known to be operating the scheme.