MORE BENEFITS
SOCIAL SECURITY
DISQUIETING FEATURE
The cost of the pharmaceutical benefits of the social security scheme, which last year was ±.980,307, c«»» pared with the previous year s expenditure of £762,108, continues to rise and represents an expenditure ot 12s 3d a head of the population, says the annual report of the Health department, presented to the House of Representatives yesterday. Part <* the "£ crease is due to extensions of the mug tariff and higher costs of drugs, but the actual rise in the number of picscriplions is still very marked. "This rise," says the report, "has occurred despite any apparent deterioration in general health, and ceitainiy without any increase m population, which is very disquieting. During ihe year the prescription frequency per head of population was 2.3." Cases of irregular, unnecessary, ana expensive prescribing were dea.t wita by the Advisory Committee, and disciplinary action was taken against, certain contractors for irregularities m connection with the supply ot mcdiC 1 Maternity benefits, at £530.734, show little variation. This expenditure includes £133.946 paid to public hospitals, £210,675 to private hospitals, and £158,409 received by medical practitaollClJ" MEDICAL SERVICES. The main items of expenditure under medical benefits were £l,lbl,&Sb for general medical services and £42,400 under the capitation system of payment. The latter showed a reduction, but the report suggests that the capitation system is sound in principle and it has yet to be proved that it is not the most satisfactory form oi medical-insurance practice. The Department expects an increase m general medical expenses as fresh practitioners enter service. The largest item relates to hospital benefits, which cost £2.330,700. This included £1.089,233 paid to public hospitals, £259.489 to private hospitals, and £83,412 for out-patients' fees. As the fund bears the expense of all mental hospital treatment, the cost for the year was £187,942.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19450912.2.108
Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 63, 12 September 1945, Page 9
Word Count
302MORE BENEFITS Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 63, 12 September 1945, Page 9
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