Minister attacks Medical Association

Press, 13 June 1986, Page 4

Minister attacks Medical Association

PA Wellington The Minister of Health, Dr Bassett, attacked the Medical Association, last evening saying it had not honoured an agreement to regulate increases in its members’ fees. The Government increased the child general medical benefit to $10.25 last September. In turn, the Medical Association promised to set up and advertise fees complaints committees for the public in 18 regions throughout New Zealand. That system was in place of a strongly resisted guideline fee. But last evening Dr Bassett said the committees were “phantom-like”. While the system existed on paper, it was unknown to the majority of New Zealanders, es-

pecially those in the greatest need, he said when opening Medical Council offices in Wellington.

Some of the committees had not yet met nine months later.

“I see an important safeguard for the increase in the GMS we made available last September as having simply gone to the winds,” he told NZPA later.

The Government would think twice before making such an agreement again.

It had some evidence fees had increased above the levels the Government had envisaged. Some complaints had recorded fees now totalling more than $2O.

“If that is the case then clearly the whole thing is out of hand,” he said.

Dr Bassett said he had attempted to get the committees set up but was now sceptical he would be successful.

He had believed this might happen but had been persuaded to give the scheme a trial after long negotiations last year.

“It looked as if there was a willingness on the part of the profession to give it a go, to discipline itself. The exercise in discipline lasted about 25 seconds.”

Dr Bassett said the child G.M.S. would not be further increased this year and the Government was now looking at new ways it could fund primary health care. Announcements might be made over the next few months, he said.