VENEREAL DISEASES

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30481, 1 July 1964, Page 16

VENEREAL DISEASES

New Policy Likely

Changes are likely in the Health Department’s policy in dealing with venereal diseases, and a revision may be made in the regulations relating to these diseases, as Hie result of a meeting held in Wellington between venereologists and medical officers of health from various parts of New Zealand and members of the department’s head office staff.

The regulations are expected to be somewhat on the lines of suggestions made in the “New Zealand Medical Journal” by the venereologist to the North Canterbury Hospital Board (Dr. W. M. Platts). Dr. Platts suggested that venereal diseases should be non-notifiable, as in England, to encourage persons to come for treatment He thought all medical practitioners should become more familiar with the diagnosis and management of these diseases, and that doctors ■who undertook to treat venereal diseases should ensure that all efforts were made to trace the partner of the patient Dr. Platts also said there should be “a national campaign on the consequences and dangers of sexual incontinence and in methods of preventing venereal disease.”