“Lancet” Editor’s Study Of Medical Care In N.Z.

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29938, 27 September 1962, Page 15

“Lancet” Editor’s Study Of Medical Care In N.Z.

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 26. Some doctors in Britain think the New Zealand system of free medical care would be better than that existing in their own country. said Sir Theodore Fox, editor of the "Lancet.” tonight. He said he thought British doctors, on the whole, were content vzith the fundamentals of the national health service. All medical treatment and care was free to the patient at the time, though as a taxpayer, or contributor to an insurance scheme, he paid for it eventually. Under the national health service a doctor was paid by the number of patients on his list for the year. In New Zealand. Sir Theodore Fox is studying the Social Security system and its operation. He hopes to see the Director-General of Health (Dr. H. B. Turbott> and to have talks with officers of the Health Department.

He has already studied the health service in Australia. From his over-all observations and talks Sir Theodore Fox will determine how medical care can best be provided and improved. At the Otago medical school he was impressed with the hiffh level of work.

He has travelled a good deal and has visited Russia, China and the United States where he found various methods of applying a health service. Neither Russia nor

China had medical care at the level of either New Zealand or Britain, but both had done a good deal in lowering the death rate and incidence of epidemics. Sir Theodore and Lady Fox are looking forward to seeing their two eldest sons. Both are farming, Duncan in the Waikato, and Andrew in Taumarunui. Two other sons are in England.