B.M.A. Reply To Attack

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30783, 22 June 1965, Page 16

B.M.A. Reply To Attack

IN.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 21.

The British Medical Association did not advocate socialism or any other political creed, said the chairman of the council of the New Zealand branch of the association (Dr. N. C. Begg), today.

He wag replying to a speech by Mr J. B. Gordon (Govt, Clutha) in Parliament last week, when he deplored the as-

sociation’s representations to the Minister of Health (Mr McKay) for an in-

crease in the general medical service benefits.

The benefit, said Mr Gordon, was not a fee but a subsidy, and it was socialism for the doctors to ask for an increase in their subsidy.

Mr Gordon argued that doctors should charge a fair fee for their services, taking into account the patient’s ability to pay.

Dr. Begg said today that the association resented any attempt to make the profession a political football. Social Security was a Gov-ernment-maintained sickness insurance scheme, he said.

“We all pay Social Securitytax as an insurance against the financial drains that may arise because of sickness. "The idea behind general medical services benefits is that no-one should have to suffer real financial hardship if he has to consult a doctor. “As Mr Gordon says, the benefit is an insurance payment to help the patient meet the expenses of a consultation,” said Dr. Begg. “The B.M.A. maintains that because of rising costs since 1941, the general medical service benefit is no longer adequate for the purpose for which it was designed. "We have, therefore, drawn

the Government’s attention to this fact and we have said that in our opinion the present benefit to the patient should be brought up to date,” said Dr. Begg.