Consumers’ role urged

Press, 6 November 1978, Page 6

Consumers’ role urged

More effective use must be made of consumer participation in health planning, according to the DirectorGeneral of Health (Dr H. J. H. Hiddlestone). Dr Hiddlestone said that in view of the recommend-; ations of the primary health ; care conference in Russia 'organised by the World Health Organisation last I month, New Zealand had' “no room for either comjplacency or feelings of inadequacy.” In a leading article in the; ■latest issue of “Hospital,”: : which is published by the j Hospital Boards’ Association,! , Dr Hiddlestone said that ur-i gent matters had to be faced in primary health care in: • New Zealand. These included more ' effective use of the available ! channels for consumer participation in planning; greater ] interdepartmental involveJment and consultation; in--1 creased financial support for 'health education in the trainling and later practice of all; 'health workers, and a wider distribution of all health workers especially doctors. Dr Hiddlestone said that he believed Denmark's experience was relevant to 'New Zealand. i

Doctors in Denmark commenced general practice on the terms of critieria agreed to by local authorities and: the Danish Medical Association. These included the “density” of general practitioners and the structure of practices in the area conerned. Doctors in Denmark had to fulfil mandatory postgraduate educational criteria before they entered general practice.

Danish action on pre-’; scribed drugs also had im-' . portant. implications for New' Zealand, because excess gov-! ernment expenditure for : these drugs detracted from - other staff and services. ‘ The Danish system of di- ■ viding drugs into three categories — necessity, efficien- - cy, and price — would rei.ceive additional study in 1 New Zealand, Dr Hiddlestone said.