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(b) That the machinery for the prevention of abuses contained in the Social Security (Pharmaceutical Supplies) Regulations, Amendment No. 2, should be invoked in all cases where there appears to be reasonable evidence of unnecessary or over prescription. It is suggested that cases calling for investigation should be referred to the appropriate Local Investigating Committee (referred to in paragraph 56 hereof) for investigation, and that the necessary powers be conferred upon these Committees to enable them to investigate and deal with complaints. GROUP SERVICES 50. The Department intimated that it had in course of preparation Group Service Regulations to provide services for groups of individuals in factories, boarding school, &c. The services provided would be preventive or curative, or both. It is proposed that the method of remuneration in each particular case be the subject of arrangement between the Department and the Association, and it is recommended that the draft regulations be submitted to the Association for their consideration. HEALTH CENTRES 51. A matter discussed at length was the possibility of initiating in a newly-settled housing area a combined health and medical centre, concentrating therein both preventive and curative services. The development of health centres should, in the Committee's view, be encouraged, but it is recommended that before their establishment full agreement should be reached through the British Medical Association with the medical practitioners in areas concerned regarding methods of administration, types of work and working conditions, and methods of remunerationGENERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE 5.2. The Committee recommends that there should be a General Advisory Committee constituted of members of the Association and one or more departmental medical officers which Committee would be recognized by the Minister as the principal consultative and advisory body in all matters involving consultation with representatives of the medical profession or any branch of the profession relating to medical services. This Committee could be appointed under section 83 of the Social Security Act, 1938. The Committees already set up under this section—e.g., the Radiological Committee—would continue to function, and further committees might from time to time need to be set up under this section. The suggested General Advisory Committee would co-ordinate the activities of all committees now or hereafter set up under section 83 to deal with any particular benefits -relating to medical services. DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE 53. Some of the existing regulations dealing with the administration of particular benefits contain provisions to enable the Minister to control and penalize practitioners who do not conform to the regulations. The Minister's powers are exercisable after reference to a committee appointed under section 83 of the Social Security Act, 1938. For example, there are provisions in the Social Security (General Medical Services) Regulations 1941 (Serial No. 1941/187) empowering the Minister, after consultation with the appropriate committee, to disallow a claim on the fund where the practitioner concerned has refused to furnish information requested of him with respect to the claim. Again, in the Social Security (Pharmaceutical Supplies) Regulations, Amendment No. 2

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