MEDICAL PRACTICE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 46, 24 February 1937, Page 5

MEDICAL PRACTICE

CONDITIONS IN N.Z,

HIGH DEGREE OF SKILL

"Conditions such as we hear so often occur in panel practice in England are unthinkable in New Zealand, and as a profession it is our duty to point this out clearly to the Government and people of New Zealand, so as to prevent at all costs the development of a body of overworked and mediocre practitioner in the future," declared Dr. T. D. M. Stout, president of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association in his presidential address last night, when discussing conditions of medical practice in the. Dominion. - .

"As a whole we have a better-trained and more highly qualified profession than anywhere else in the world. The percentage of our members who hold higher degrees is remarkable. We also have a higher percentage of medical men in the community than any other country in the world. There is therefore no Jack as regards numbers and certainly no lack as regards quality. There is a danger that the quality of our profession may be lowered by the admission of men qualified elsewhere, with poorer training,- and possibly coming from countries who allow of no reciprocity of practice as far as New Zealand is concerned.

"We have, especially in the larger centres, consultants and specialists :n different departments of medicine. Specialism has not been developed in New Zealand to the same extent as in more densely-populated countries with larger cities; but gradually specialists are increasing in numbers as the local circumstances warrant it. There is undoubtedly a danger of. 100 rigid a degree of specialism till our population grows much larger but, undoubtedly, it is ■ impossible for .a general practitioner to be skilled and experienced enough to undertake all branches of medical treatment, and certain types of medical practice and treatment should be restricted. to those specially qualified to undertake it.

"It is to be regretted that consultations are not more frequent, and that the services of the more experienced members of the profession are not more availed of in this regard."