STATE MEDICAL SERVICES

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22805, 2 September 1939, Page 9

STATE MEDICAL SERVICES

CANADA WATCHING OTHER COUNTRIES [THE PRESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, September 1. ( Canada has shelved proposals for socialised medical service, but keeps a keen eye trained on the accomplishments of other countries, according to Dr. Crawford C. McCullough, of Fort William, Ontario, who was a through passenger by the Mariposa. He said it was generally realised it was a trend of the times to make medical services available to any and all, but the Canadian Medical Association held that this was not the province of any Government. . “Medical services can best be provided economically as well as equably by the medical profession,” said Dr. McCullough. “It is one service . the Government should not step into. The Government’s concern in medicine should be with preventative and sanitary arrangements, which go with public health. “We have local schemes in several parts of Canada, and one in. particular which is operating with notable success in Toronto. It takes the form of a limited liability company of physicians and surgeons with office management. A family is charged a monthly flat rate,.which entitles it to all medical services except major operations, for which there is a schedule of charges much lower than the ordinary surgical fees would be. The scheme has been’ working with the greatest success for three years. Subscribers are evidently satisfied and the profession is reasonably satisfied. .“At the same time the Medical Association has its own permanent committee looking into the State medical services of other countries, always with a sure knowledge that the medical profession should give a lead and not be led.”

Dr. McCullough, accompanied by Mrs McCullough, is bound for Sydney to attend the all-Australian Rotary Conference next week as a representative pf Rotary International,