G.M.S. plan 'put back’ by doctors’ actions

Press, 18 May 1984, Page 1

G.M.S. plan 'put back’ by doctors’ actions

PA

Wellington

A proposal before the Government for an increased General Medical Services benefit had been “put back somewhat” by doctors’ actions, the Acting Prime Minister, Mr McLay, said yesterday.

Mr McLay also said that the Minister of Health, Mr Malcolm, had been “entirely proper” when he said that all State support for medical practices could be reconsidered.

Asked if he supported Mr Malcolm’s comments about doctors’ actions over fee increases, Mr McLay said:

“Mr Malcolm, I believe, very carefully and responsibly stated the position that the Government does not accept that fee increases that will yield substantially more than $8 a week are fair.”

Mr Malcolm had said that South Canterbury doctors were making an “attempt to blackmail” when they said that “private charity” given to disadvantaged people by medical practices could end because of the Government restrictions on fees.

Mr Malcolm’s response to the South Canterbury doctors “was in the circumstances entirely proper,” Mr McLay said. The attitude had not been adopted by doctors in other areas, he said.

“The Medical Association in Auckland gave unanimous support to the position

adopted by its (national) association, which was to support a $1 a consultation increase.”

Mr McLay said he could not give an indication of the outcome of the case before the Government for an increased G.M.S. benefit. “The Government has said our present level of subsidy is based on certain understandings about the way in which you deal with patients, including an understanding that you do treat some patients without charging an additional fee and only taking the G.M.S.

“If you intend to change that basis of practice then obviously we have to reconsider the basis on which taxpayers’ subsidies are paid.”

Mr McLay said that if the average general practitioner increased his fee for consultations by $2 he would increase his gross weekly income by $272, allowing for 20 per cent of fee consultations not being paid.

If the consultation fee was increased by $3, gross income would rise by $4OB a week.

The Labour Party’s health spokesman, Dr Michael Bas-

sett, said that doctors’ fees had been far too high for years and the Government should increase the G.M.S. benefit now. Dr Bassett said that was the only fair way out of the confrontation. Social Credit’s health spokesman, Mr Jim Elder, said it was time to have a series of round-table discussions to “evolve an equitable way of settling these disputes.” “There is no doubt the G.M.S. benefit has to increase, but this has to be to the advantage of patients. On top of that doctors and all members of the private health sector are severely affected by the surge in costs and price increases,” he said.