"INADEQUATE."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 98, 28 April 1938, Page 20

"INADEQUATE."

SCALE OF PAYMENTS.

FUTURE OF PROFESSION.

" SERVICE MAY SUFFER." (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. it was contended by the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association in its statement submitted to the Parliamentary Committee inquiring into the health scheme that the failure to include specialist, consultant and laboratory and radiological services robbed the scheme of whatever virtue it might •have had. For these essential parts of medical service the poorer people would have to turn either to private sources or to the public hospitals.

'•Although free hospital treatment was proclaimed," .said Dr. Jamieson, who submitted the statement, "it would appear that this really means 0/ a day in public hospitals and some lesser payment in private hospitals. Here we must protest that whatever hospital benefit in accorded should be avai'alle equally in private and public institutions. It would be entirely unfair that a public need should be met by private hospitals at the disadvantage of a lower scale of subsidy.

"From the evidence submitted by the actuary. Mr. G. H. Maddcx, it would appear that a capitation of 13/, including mileage, is contemplated, with additional maternity fees of £•"> a case. This, we submit, is inadequate under any system. If to a scheme, mistaken in principle, is to be added insufficient remuneration, the service of the. people will suffer and the future of the profession will indeed be unattractive.

"In its opposition to the proposals," Dr. Jamieson continued, "the profession was not influenced, however, by financial considerations. Indeed, it. seemed likely that in some respects the scheme, as outlined to us. might be entirely satisfactory if judged solely from the point of view of pecuniary benefits.

Nursing Service. "We think there should be provision of a complete medical and nursing service for those unable to make adequate provision for themselves," said Dr. Jamieson. "In this group there should be included not only necessitous persons, but also those whose incomes and family responsibilities are such that they cannot individually provide a full medical service for themselves and their dependents. For persons in better circumstances, in which the chief burden is severe prolonged illness, we propose the institution of an insurance scheme to provide cash benefits to cover, in part at least, the cost of hospital, specialist and consultant services.

Firing Income Limit. "Our proposals imply the fixing of an income limit for beneficiaries. The Government can have no fundamental objection to this, as its other proposals for social security are subject to a limit of this kind. The first objective should be the provision of a complete service for those whose needs are greatest. The Prime Minister's proposals provide little for the people which is not available to them at present, and ignore real impediments to efficient treatment. They suggest that the Government is more concerned with changing the present system than with improving the medical service of the people.

"Wo consider that the personal and special character of the relationship of doctor to patient is 'best preserved when both parties are free and untrammelled in their choice, and when the method of remuneration is also a matter of individual arrangement. Of all human relationships, we consider that this is one of the least susceptible to' regimentation, and would most readily be adversely affected by the intervention of any substantial measure of State direction."