SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15930, 18 June 1917, Page 6

SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS.

SCHEME TO MEET DIFFICULTY

MEDICAL ASSOCIATION'S PROPOSALS.

The modical profession litis been classod by the National Efficicncy Board as one of tbo most essential industries. Already out of 723 doctors on the medical register at the begin-. nin<r of the war, 257, or more than onethird, aro on military service at home or abroad. In view of tho difficulties arising in regard to the adequate supply of medical men for the civil community, the Council of tho New Zealand Branch of the British Medical Association hj|S issued a statement as tho official opinion of tho profession hore (says tho Wellington "Post"). It makes tho following recommendations to tho Ministers of Defenco and Public Health:— 1. That it is essential than an Advisory Hoard be set up to which tho military and civil authorities can apply from time to time for assistanco and advice. 2. That the Board consist of six meinbors of the British Medical Association, to be appointed by'the divisions of the New Zealand Branch, each such member being empowered to appoint a deputy. Tnat for tho purpose of electing representatives on the Board the divisions bo grouped as under:— (a) Auckland; (b) Poverty Bay, Bawko's Bay, Wanganui. and "Palmerston North; (c) Yt'ol line ton; (d) Nelson and Westland; (e) Canterbury and South Canterbury; (f) and Southland. Each group to appoint one member. 3. That the Council agrees to the enrolment of th© medical men practising in New Zealand with a viow to their being called up compulsonly as required for military medical service, provided that in such case any man £-o called shall have the right to appeal to tho Advisory Board, as proposed t>y the Special Committoe. | 4. That the functions of the proposed Advisory Board shall bo to hear appeals, to consider the needs of the districts concerned, and the exigencies of tho war and make recommendations to the Minister accordingly. ~ That tho servicos of any applicant for registration under the Modical Practitioners Act shall be placed at tho disposal first of the Minister of Dofence, and secondly, tho Minister of Public Health, and that this shall be a condition of registration. <3. That the question of tho use and distribution of recently-qualified New Zealand graduates bo referred to che Advisory Board. 7. That an effort; be mado to prevent men in active service from changing their place of prnctico during the period of the war without the permission of the Minister of Public Health. 8. That necessary legislation shall dulv safegunrd tho interests cf the profession, and shall remain in operation only during the ppriorl of the. war and suhsrnueut demobilisation. ~ 9. That the expense nf brin"in<r into operation and administering the proposed schemo be borne by tho Government. Th© Minister of Public Health proroses that an Act of Pnrlinnienf phnnld b? pns?od to give power if necessary to mn'u'H-o the medical practitioners of Now Zealand for tho r>nT>ose of trnn«dortors from districts alreadv adrmiaWy supplied to other districts where is a scarcity of medical practit'-nnors. This oroposnl is noi- favoured by tho Council of the 8.M.A., whir-h has therefore mado the following recommendations:—

1, Thnt for thncc districts cannot at present bo supplied by medical mwi, tho Government should advortiyn for doctors, offering in addition to the emoluments to bo derived from practice, an bom->rnriiim of. say. £510 n/>r annum (captain's pay), wtf u +-,i7ot'in<r allowance.

2. T'->i»+ pc+t ; r>-» medial men by advertiscTront, Advisory Board <; v p)ilrl to securc men voluntarily. and such ho "aid an adequate remuneration by cho G^vommenfc.

3. in a case tbo district is by tbo rflt'inrr tir» of n doctor for ni ;l '+ary service tb'o diffipnltv c-'MiVI nric.s'bH* )>r> raof. bv recalling that r)rn"titio"or t" bi« civil practice and ron!;, c iisr bim in the mil : <.T-v bv a doctor from a less dcnleted district . "