Social Security Plan (Continued from page 12.) NO FEAR OF DOCTORS STRIKING

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 271, 12 August 1938, Page 13

Social Security Plan (Continued from page 12.) NO FEAR OF DOCTORS STRIKING

Dr. McMillan’s Opinion

GENERAL PRACTITIONER PIVOT OF SCHEME

‘■l am confident that the conscientious doubts and fears being expressed in New Zealand to-day will prove groundless once the scheme starts to work,” sai'd Dr. D. G. McMillan (Government. Dunedin West) when speaking on the social security report in the House of Representatives last night. "The member for Christchurch North has practically stated that the medical profession will go on strike. I have no fear of that happening. I know the medical profession much better than that " 4. 1 Dr. McMillan said that over the last three years the Government had been in constant communication and consultation with the medical profession. The other day when the Government placed its proposals before the representatives of the profession they stated that they were in entire agreement that they could quite well leave the question of remuneration to the Government. They were in entire agreement with the Government as to the proposed form of administration. The only point on which they differed with the Government was as to whether the scheme should be partial or universal. “Wo are told,” said Dr. McMillan, “that we should confine our attentions to the preventive side and not pay any attention to the curative side. The plain fact is that you cannot differentiate between prevention and cure. The cure of a minor illness may prevent the onset of something more serious. It is recognised on all hands that we will continue to contract diseases caused by germs. Whatever preventive medicine can do I think it will be many centuries before it can prevent people dying of old age. People will still continue to wear out and die, but medical attention will do much to make their lives more easy.” Dr. McMillan said that they did not propose to introduce any costly form of health insurance. To-day the people of New Zealand spent £6,000,000 on health services. Under the new scheme it was proposed to spend £3,000,000. The expenditure of a little over £4,000,000 would provide a much better service than was/being given to-day. The pivot of the scheme was the general practitioner service. The other auxiliaries would be added in time. The question was how much could be jvrovided on opening day. The Opposition was complaining ; because the Government was not doing the whole job in five minutes.

“Keep the present Government in office and all these services will be provided in the near future,” added Dr. McMillan.