SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 91, 17 April 1917, Page 7

SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS

AN IMPORTANT PROPOSAL

Speaking at' Auckland on Saturday last, the Hon G. W. Russell (Minister of Public Health) said that a return recently prepared by Dr Valintine (InspectorGeneral of Hospitals) showed that at the outbreak of war there were 783 medical men practising in the Dominion. Of this number 190 were now serving with the Expeditionary Forces outside tho Dominion, and 47 v/ere engaged on purely military duty in New Zealand, leaving only 546 available for the needs of the civil population. This brought the number very close to the danger line. Two questions arose from tho situation —Firstly, the maintenance of the civilian medical services; and secondly, the increase, of the number of medical practitioners in the Dominion. He was inclined to think that there must be some JEorm of mobilisation before long, together 'with a power of transfer similar to that now existing at Home, and this matter was now being carefully considered. A LARGER QUESTION . A larger question that was looming ahead was the training of medical men in New Zealand. The number of New Zealand-trained doctors must be increased. He had recently stated in Otago that he hoped to see tne training of medical men placed on a more democratic basis. The medical course could not in general be undertaken except by the sons of men who were prepared to spend approximately £500 for the purpose. There were a few cases of the softs of poor men who had assisted themselves during their training by coaching, harvesting, etc., but these were comparatively rare. -A few bursaries'"were now: granted to fifthyear men who received £100 during the last year of their course. What was wanted was assistance to deserving men throughout the entire course.

TRAINING IN ALL FOUR CENTRES. The fact that New Zealand possessed four centres, at only one of which the medical course conld be taken, placed difficulties in the way of poor men.. He wanted to see these difficulties removed as far as possible, so that opportunity might be given to youths of all classes of parents. Auckland possessed the largest hospital in tho Dominion, and there was an abundance of clinical material there, of which no use whatever was being mads for the training of students. Yet it would be admitted that ■practical training was as necessary—aye, more so—than the theoretical The same remark applied to Wellington and Christchurch. If the number of medical men in New Zealand was to be brought up to a proper standard, and the profession of medicine opened to all classes, means must be found for making use of all opportunities in the four centres. He ■was not prepared at present to formulate a scheme.

That rested with the heads of the university colleges in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. _ If they, together with the University Senate, the Hospital Boards, and the medical profession would confer, he felt suro a practicable scheme could be evolved. His desire was to see the large hospitals in all the centres made available for the training of medical students; and, if necessary, after they had advanced a certain distance in their medical course at Dunedrn, they could be transferred to the hospitals in the different centres for : the continuation of their practical training. Possibly it would be necessary for tho Government to assist in this work, but ho was sure that if the scheme were put upon a proper footing Parliament would aid in looting the bill.