No bills for pills

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34138, 27 April 1976, Page 12

No bills for pills

(From Our Own Reporter) NELSON. The Government was inot considering the introduction of a charge lon prescriptions, the [Minister of Health (Mr Gill) told chemists in Nelson. Mr Gil! broke off his prepared address at the opening of the conference of the Pharmaceutical Society and the Chemists’ Guild to make this reply to an earlier plea' to the Government not to introduce such a measure as a means of reducing the country’s drug bill. In his address, the president of the Pharmaceutical Society (Mr A. A. Fraser) said the use of prescription medicines by New Zealand people was an area of primary concern to all pharmacists.

“We have a responsibility, along with the medical profession, to keep down our pharmaceutical benefit bill by educating the consumer who, as in most other developed countries of the world, has a growing tendency to think that all the many ills, stresses and strains of modern livihg can be alleviated by a tablet or capsule,” he said.

“Perhaps it could be stated that all medicine at present is too interventionist. Maybe a return to some degree of personal responsibility and acceptance of something less than perfect health will make people more contented with what can be achieved rather than the ideal.” said Mr Fraser.

In the review of total Government expenditure the bill for pharmaceutical benefits was bound to be subjected to close scrutiny, be said. “Almost certainly, the question of imposing some form of prescription charge is bound to be considered by you and your Cabinet colleagues,” he said speaking to Mr Gill.

“I urge you if you do consider the proposal to reject it totally,” said Mr Fraser. He backed this plea with examples from overseas where prescription charges were made, and cited cases where the effects had not been entirely beneficial. He asked the Government to weigh the possible savings in the drug bill through domiciliary treatment against the possibility of hospital treatment at $66 a day. The Minister said that “the Government, to my knowledge. has not been considering this area. We may have to now. of course.” he said with a smile. In his prepared address, speaking on Government expenditure, Mr Gill said expenditure covered the area of pharmaceutical benefits, and the increase each year was causing what amounted almost to alarm. “As Minister of Health I am very much aware that while reviewing the situation we must keep in mind the aim of Government in this area of the health service.” he said. “This is the provision of free, efficacious, and up-to-date medicines in the most economic manner,” he said. Influences far beyond the control of the chemists had increased the bill, said Mr

A. E. Trappitt, (president of the Chemists’ Guild). The phenomenal rise in the cost of petroleum products, general inflation, and a devaluation had all played their part in pushing up the bill, he said.

Welcoming the delegates, the Mayor of Nelson (Mr R. A. McLennan) said one of his jobs as Mayor was to deal with people and their welfare in every sphere, and one of the problems he had found was the ailment known as “suburban neurosis.’’

“I expect there are as many opinions as to its treatment as there are people here,’’ he said. “But is there any pharmacist or chemist here who has not been required to make or give a pill or potion for just such a complaint? In fact, 1 wonder just how much suburban neurosis is costing New Zealand today,” he said. “Am I blinded by m.v own involvement or are those who are only involved on the sideline aware that every prescription that is created through simple expediency rather than genuine need is another in the coffin of a decadent society,” he said.

Mr Gill referred to Mr McLennan’s remarks later. If some housewives were suffering from suburban neurosis it might be good if they had to pay a little for their tranquillisers, Mr Gill said. They might find that tne costs of these were more than the membership subscriptions of the local bowling or golf clubs they could join.