Doctors resent pill policy

Press, 22 August 1978, Page 11

Doctors resent pill policy

PA Nelson Many Nelson doctors say they resent being asked to undertake what amounts to means tests on persons seeking free contraceptives. They say the Government’s' changed policy, which took effect on August 1. requires doctors to write prescriptions for free where *in the opinion ot the practitioner it would be inappropriate for the paiieni to pay.” Ihe president of the Nelson branch of the New Zealand Medical Association (Dr John Shearer), there was a strong feeling among Nelson doctors that ” was wrong to charge some patients for contraceptives and not o*hers The attitude of most of the doctors was that they would write the free prescription! without question when a ked. One Nelson doctor said ■ It i® not our business to cam out what virtually

amounts to a means test on a patient who asks for free contraceptives. Having to make this sort of decision would destroy ! our relationships with I patients.” The doctor said that most persons seeking free ; contraceptives would not I be patients in the medical I sense but customers who i could just as easily obtain ; their contraceptives at a ' chemist's shop. The time involved in I seeing these “customers” • was also of concern when j there were many sick per- ■ sons .waiting to see their doctor. The doctors also took I issue with the Health Department’s instruction to them “to observe economy ; in prescribing” and that in the case of condoms “a ! cheaper brand should be prescribed unless there is i an indication for use of a more expensive brand.” One doctor asked, “If a j person says he uses a specific number a week, are we supposed to tell him to I cut down?”