Prescription charges questioned

Press, 10 March 1982, Page 7

Prescription charges questioned

Wellington reporter A 50c charge on prescriptions would quickly rise to $2.50, said the Labour Shadow Minister for Health (Mrs Anne Hercus) this week. This was what had happened in Britain under a Conservative Government, she said. Mrs Hercus said that chemists were reacting at being asked to act as tax collectors; doctors believed health care would deteriorate; administrators said the cost of. administration would go up and more bureaucrats would be added to the system; and consumers ' said that the charge would hit hardest those who could least afford it. Sepior citizens. believed that the Government was not only attacking their National Superannuation but was also attacking their health care. Mrs Hercus said that the Minister of Health (Mr Malcolm) seemed to be underestimating the savings already being made from reductions in supplies of pre-

scription medicines from 12 days to 5 days. Tranquillisers or sleeping pills were now available only on the first prescription, and the patient had to either pay for the repeeat or make a return visit to the doctor. Questions that Mr Malcolm should answer before a charge was introduced were: © Was be intending to exempt senior citizens, pregnant women, and children? This would reduce revenue by 50 per cent. • What would be the increase in administrative costs? @ Would chemists be reimbursed for their time and effort as tax collectors? ® Who would pay for bulk orders placed by public health officials at chemists? © Who would pay for rural deliveries when prescriptions were sent by public transport to patients? • Would patients in hospital bear the charge? • What would the net value, be after deduction of all administrative costs?