‘Beer, tobacco levy could pay medical increase’

Press, 19 November 1982, Page 12

‘Beer, tobacco levy could pay medical increase’

Parliamentary reporter One-third of the increased levy on alcohol and tobacco could have paid for the recommended increase in the general medical services benefit, said the member for Lyttelton, Mrs Ann Hercus.

The Committee to Review Primary Medical Services urged in its report to the Minister of Health, Mr Malcolm. that the benefit paid to general practitioners rise from the present $1.25 to $5 for ordinary patients. $7 to beneficiaries and $9 for children.

Mrs Hercus has criticised Mr Malcolm for avoiding in his comment on the report, released on Monday, the recommended increase in the G.M.S. benefit. “The Government threw away at Budget time, a golden opportunity to fund increased primary health care benefits through the beer and ‘baccy’ tax," she said. “The taxes raised an extra $ll5 million and should at least in part, have been used for health care funding. "The equivalent of 3c on a jug of beer, 8c on a packet of cigarettes, and comparable amounts on wine and spirits would completely fund the recommended increase in G.M.S. benefits, and again make it possible for people to afford to go to their doctors," she said. Mr Malcolm said the G.M.S. benefit was only one of a number of inter-related factors in the return to em-

phasis on primary medical-: care. It would have been premature for the Government to have committed Budget increases in tobacco and alcohol taxes to the G.M.S. benefit while a review of the 1 entire primary medical service was underway, and some programmes funded by the benfit might be changed. Mr Malcolm said he was ■ rapidly and carefully consid- . ering all the issues by consultation and consensus.

Mrs Hercus was attempting to score political points on the sideline, he said.