Curbs On Overseas Patients

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31206, 2 November 1966, Page 3

Curbs On Overseas Patients

(N.Z. Press Association! AUCKLAND, Nov. 1 Restrictions on people who come to Ne w Zealand from other countries for specialist hospital treatment were outlined in a letter to the Auckland Hospital Board. Advancing techniques in heart surgery and other fields have lately attracted people from the United States and elsewhere to New Zealand for operations. The department says that hospital boards must determine admission to public hospitals of people who come to this country for specialist treatment on these conditions. 1. That the treatment was recommended by an acknowledged overseas expert and was not available in the country where the patient lived. 2. That no New Zealand residents, Cook, Niue or Tokelau Islanders or other persons eligible for health benefits were awaiting such treatment.

3. That requests for treatment was made to a hospital board or its medical superintendent.

4. That all costs related to treatment were charged.

A further proviso was that priority for specialist treatment was to be given to people from South Pacific i areas and British Commonwealth countries.

The Minister of Health (Mr McKay) has approved of treatment with the charging and collection of appropriate fees to people who happened

to be in New Zealand and required hospital treatment, and those who came here deliberately for non-specialist treatment—for example, girls seeking anonymity in connexion with maternity services.

The letter said the department had submissions before the Government at present relating to medical treatment in New Zealand for people of the Cook, Niue and Tokelau Islands, and eligibility for health benefits of New Zealand citizens living overseas and temporarily revisiting this country and certain other visitors. Government decisions had not yet been given on these.

The only basis of charge up to now was the standard charge ranging from £7 to £8 a day for time spent in hospital. This was set for visitors who became sick while in the country.

The future charge would be as close as possible to the actual cost to the taxpayer.