“Social Security A Community Effort”

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31941, 19 March 1969, Page 12

“Social Security A Community Effort”

The cost of health—and other social security benefits is essentially a universal responsibility which needs to be provided for on the basis of a community contribution, says the Minister of Health (Mr McKay) in reply to a letter to the editor of “The Press”.

The correspondent, “Kefew,” writes: “For just on a year, my wife has been waiting for a vacancy in a public hospital for the treatment of a complaint which is causing her grave concern. I have been paying social security tax for many years without having made any claim. “My suggestion is this. Would it. not be conceivable for those who are financing social security tax to have their ‘stipend’ credited to an account in their name? “A certain proportion could be placed in a general fund for use by old-age pensioners, etc. If a prescription was obtained, the amount could be deducted from the person’s account, as could other benefits, eg-, family, hospital, unemployment, etc. “Many people do not claim even a remote percentage during their lifetime, and this could be refunded at a later, specified date. This procedure would discourage unemployment and neuroticism.

“This has been a broad outline of the scheme only. It has defects, but value, too-”

Mr McKay replies that the availability of hospital beds is governed by a variety of factors and not all patients can be assured of early admission.

“Where the condition calls for prompt or urgent attention every endeavour is made by public hospitals to provide for such cases, after consultation with the patient’s own doctor.

“Although some patients are required to sustain a wait, it is not considered that this necessarily indicates that the provisions of social security are seriously amiss. “Neither can it be agreed that a suitable alternative lies in the suggestion offered by ‘Kefew’. “Any proposal whereby eligibility for benefits is dependent on a credit balance, in a person’s ‘social security contribution account’, or that benefits be directly related to contributions, would seem to overlook a fundamental and generally accepted principle of social security. “I refer to the help it provides for those whose degree of dependence is appreciable, but who by reason of circumstances often beyond their control, have not been able to make more than a limited contribution in the form of taxes.

“The elderly, widows, invalids and large families would be among those affected to an adverse extent by such a proposal,” says Mr McKay.