PHARMACEUTICAL BENEFITS
Sir, —To-day pharmaceutical benefits under the Social Security scheme commenced operations. Once again, we learn that only a portion of the benefits is to be given. The unfortunate patient whose case calls for a special proprietary line must not only pay for it, but also go on paying for benefits he is not receiving, thus paying more than twice; for usually the lines I refer to are very expensive and absolutely necessary. Surely, these patients should have a claim for benefits. To quote one case: one patient I know has been under a doctor’s care for four years. The prescription ordered has increased greatly in price during that time. The doctor can give no alternative line except a proprietary one, so this patient will have to continue paying at least 5s a week for medicine that should come under the benefits while persons who suffer less, with minor ailments, can receive as many bottles of medicine as they care to take for no payment whatever. Is this just?— Yours, etc., BENEFITS TO ALL ALIKE. May 5, 1941.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19410508.2.99.2
Bibliographic details
Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23323, 8 May 1941, Page 12
Word Count
179PHARMACEUTICAL BENEFITS Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23323, 8 May 1941, Page 12
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.
Log in