HEALTH SCHEME

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 189, 12 August 1938, Page 9

HEALTH SCHEME

BENEFITS SCOPE.

MEDICAL SERVICE. ALL DOCTORS MAY JOIN. PATIENT'S RIGHT OF CHOICE. (By Telegraph.— Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this <lay. The principal clauses of the national health section of the bill provide for a complete universal general practitioner service, the range of this service being similar to that under the British scheme; that- is, the services of a general practitioner, other than those involving the application of special skill and experience, are to be available to all. A special section provides for maternity attention and maintenance in a maternity hospital for 14 days and an extra payment to the doctor for his service and attention on these occasions. Health benefits are defined as medical benefits, pharmaceutical benefits, hospital 'benefits and certain supplementary benefits set out in a later paragraph. The administration of all these benefits is under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Health.

The bill provides that the benefits will commence on Jpril 1, 1939. If, however, arrangements for the effective administration of any of the benefits cannot be completed by that date, then the Minister is empowered to make provision for the inauguration of those benefits at the earliest possible date.

The qualification for health benefits is that every person over the age of 16 years, ordinarily resident in New Zealand, will be entitled to health benefits.

Medical benefits include all proper and necessary services of general practitioners. Specialist and consultant, services are dealt with as a special benefit.

Every registered doctor in New Zealand is entitled to provide medical benefit service if he indicates that he is prepared to comply with the terms and conditions set out by the Minister, after consulting the medical committee. Any doctor may withdraw from participating in the scheme by giving three montlw' notice to the Minister, or shorter notice if the Minister approves.

Every person entitled to medical benefits will have the right from time to time, with the concurrence of the doctor concerned, to select the doctor whom he desires to treat him. MEDICINES FROM CHEMISTS: Every chemist lawfully carrying on business from time to time will be entitled to supply the required medicine, drugs, materials and appliances if he indicates his willingness to comply with the terms and conditions fixed by the Minister. In. regard to pharmaceutical benefits, in special cases where it is necessary to assure an adequate service, J the Minister may approve of any other competent person to supply medicines, | drugs, materials and appliances.

The hospital benefits cover medical and surgical treatment, nursing care and maintenance in any public or private hospital, or other similar institution recognised a« a hospital. It al9o includes special clinical treatment to out-patients at public hospitals.

• All hospital 'benefits received at any public hospital will be entirely free of change to {he individual, except in those cases where he hns recovered damages or compensation for the cost of hospital treatment. If the patient desires to be treated in a private hospital the Social Security Fund will pay towards the hospital expenses the same amount as is fixed for payment to hospital boards, and the balance of the cost will be charged to the patient. Special power is given to the Minister to make a grant instead of individual payments to meet the case of those hospitals which do not require payment of fees by their patients.

MENTAL HOSPITAL TREATMENT:

Provision is made that, after the commencement of the health benefits, all treatment and maintenance in a public mental hospital will be free of charge. Every woman who requires maternity benefits will be entitled to the following services (a) If she is confined in an approved maternity will receive all necessary medical and nursing attendance required and maintenance in the hospital at her confinement and for a period of fourteen days after the birth of the child; (b) If she is confined in her own home she will ] receive the services of a doctor and maternity nurse or midwife at her confinement and for fourteen day* after the birth of the child; (c) in any case she is entitled to advice and treatment by a doctor during the ante-natal and post-natal periods. The Minister will arrange bo that every approved maternity hospital and every registered maternity nurse and midwife accepting the terms and conditions provided may participate in the provision of maternity benefit. SELECTION OF DOCTORS: Every doctor who desires to do so may participate in the provision of maternity benefit if he accepts the arrangements made by the Minister. Where the maternity benefits are provided in a maternity hospital carried on by a hospital board or by the Government, the services shall be free of charge. Where the patient receives the benefit in a private maternity hospital, the payment made out of the Social Security Fund will meet part or the whole of the cost according to the arrangement made by the Minister with the hospital.

All the services of doctors, maternity nurses and midwives in respect of maternity benefits will be free of charge, except where ,the patient chooses a specialist to attend her, in which case the Social Security Fund will make the standard payment for the service.

Supplementary benefits comprise radiological and laboratory services and the administration of anaesthetics, services of specialists and consultants, dental services, ambulance services, home nursing and domestic assistance, and any other services that may be required for the protection of the health of the community and will be provided subsequent to the inauguration of the scheme, arrangements are practicable.