Medical Benefits

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30841, 28 August 1965, Page 14

Medical Benefits

Sir, —Could you get me an authoritative reply on two medical matters? First—the Pill. To obtain these I visit oi ring my doctor who gives me a two-month prescription (never more) which I exchange at a chemist’s for the pills. These cost me 12s 6d a month, and the doctor charges 7s 6d (social security deducted) for the prescription. Yet some of my friends apparently receive their contraceptive pills free, on request, from their doctors. Is there no set practice? Second, is it necessary to visit a surgeon to be placed on the waiting list at the Christchurch Hospital? After having two general practitioners agree that my ailment could be cured only by surgery, I was told that I must visit a surgeon toj have the diagnosis confirmed and be enrolled at the hospital. This cost almost £3. 1 have since heard that one can be enrolled simply by visiting the hospital outpatients* department.—Yours, etc., PILL-O.

August 13, 1965. [ln reply to the first part of the letter, Dr. L. F. Jepson, Medical Officer of Health, says: “Oral contraceptives which inhibit ovulation and are effective for birth control purposes also have a place in medical treatment. When they are employed for therapeutic purposes they are available as a pharmaceutical benefit. Drugs intended for oral contraception are not available as a charge on public funds in any circumstances and all medical practitioners have been advised to this effect.”] [ln reply to the second part, Dr. L. McH. Berry, medical superintendent-in-chief of the North Canterbury Hospital Board, says: “Any general practitioner can recommend a patient for surgery by forwarding an appropriate doctor’s letter to the hospital. Whether or not the patient is required to attend or has his name placed directly on the list will be decided on receipt of the letter.”]