NATIONAL HEALTH

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 79, 17 January 1950, Page 3

NATIONAL HEALTH

NEW PROPOSAL IN AUSTRALIA (Rec. 11.30) MELBOURNE, This Day. The Federal Council of the British Medical Association has drafted a new national health plan which will be discussed to-day at a conference between the Federal Council and the Minister for Health (Sir Earle Page). The president of the council (Sir Victor Hurley) said the plan would maintain the health of the nation at the highest possible standard without impugning the individual liberty of doctors. The plan recommends: Firstly, the use of voluntary pre-payment systems similar to the medical benefits fund of New South Wales, in which families pay a small sum weekly for guaranteed benefits; secondly extension of the lodge medical benefits system; thirdly care of pensioners and unemployed over long periods, including provision of a general practitioner service paid for through the existing state agencies; fourthly, free provision of life-saving and disease-preventing drugs; fifthly complete freedom of choice of a doctor; sixthly, benefits covering general practitioner, specialist and diagnostic, surgical, physiotherapist and obstetric services. The New South Wales medical benefits fund has been in operation for some years. Membership is available to people under the age of 65 for a weekly payment from a shilling weekly for minors to 3s weekly for adults with dependents. The benefits include payment of 7s fid a visit for medical consultation or treatment by a general practitioner and £1 Is for the first visit of a specialist, with 10s 6d for subsequent visits, a contribution toward surgeon’s fees up to £26 ss, £5 5s per confinement for obstetrical treatment.