Doctors’ charges

Press, 9 February 1989, Page 18

Doctors’ charges

Sir,—Today I received, like all my neighbours, a pamphlet in my letterbox which displays on its front page this catch-phrase: “Prescription charges up — doctors’ charges down.”- It surprised me that, while the only matter being dealt with in this brochure is that of prescription charges in detail, no mention is.made whatsoever of to what extent doctors’ charges will be reduced in the various age and family groups. It would appear fair if such information was made known

simultaneously to the general public in order that whatever difference there may be for such consultation charges this is not absorbed by the profession as an inevitable (further) increase which was imminent, cancelling out any apparent benefit to the patient. I well remember from years past how on every occasion that a State Advances loan (now Housing Corporation) limit was increased, it resulted in an immediate increase in builders’ prices to the same extent, or almost, as the extra funds becoming available. Could you please arrange for an explanation of the above? It would appear the Health Department can control the chemists’, but not the doctors’ charges. — Yours, etc.,

H. L. L. BOHNENN. January 26, 1989.

[The Medical Officer of Health in Christchurch, Dr M. A. Brieseman, replies: “Publicity in the media from both the Department of Health and Medical Association has made it quite clear that doctors’ fees will be reduced to the same extent that the general services medical benefit increases. Doctors have given an assurance that benefits of the increased payment will be passed on to the patient. While doctors are as free to review their charges as any other individual, I understand that there is an undertaking that this will not be done at present so that as the benefits are increased, G.M.S. payments are seen to be passed on. Your correspondent is in error in suggesting that the' Health Department controls chemists’ ‘ but not doctors’ charges. They are both dealt with in exactly the same way; that is, the department will only pay them a fixed amount for a service provided, and they must each recoup the rest of their costs themselves. The difference is in that the chemists are presently recovering part of the costs of the prescription directly from the patient.”]