NATIONAL HEALTH SCHEMES

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 127, 22 February 1939, Page 10

NATIONAL HEALTH SCHEMES

Condemnation By American Surgeon By Telegraph—Press Association. OHRISTOHURCII, February 21. Au American surgeon, Dr. Edward H. Oehsner, of Chicago, who after investigating national health schemes in Europe, particularly in Germany, wrote a book entitled "Social Insurance ami Health Security,” said on his arrival in 'Christchurch today : “1 am very much against such national health schemes, and have stated my objections in my book. I spent two years in Europe, principally in Germany, investigating health schemes and I based my conclusions on actual statistics. “First of all, the most serious objection is tlie increase in malingering. A national health scheme increases the days of illness. I have actual proof of this from Germany based on figures. A national health scheme increases the cost of medical care, but it does not decrease the mortality or the morbidity (the number of days of sickness). It also interferes with the confidential personal relations between a physician and his patient. .“Tlie effect of such schemes is that people run to physicians with trivial complaints to such an extent that the physician i s so worn out with trivialities that he could not give the serious attention to really sick people that he ought, to give. These are tlie main reasons for iny objection to the schemes —they do not decrease mortality or morbidity and they increase the cost.”

Dr. Oehsner was asked if his conclusions had been disputed, and he said “No, thej- are based on actual statistics.” lie was also asked if he had any comments to make on medical practice or hospital facilities in New Zealand. He said, “No, I have been in New Zealand only four days, but I attended the medical conference today and found it very interesting and iff structive.”