THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

Evening Star, Issue 23270, 19 May 1939, Page 12

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —It appears that the intention of the Government’s health scheme is to convert doctors from individual practitioners to Civil servants, on a fixed salary. This should be quite all right, and should be actually an advantage to doctors willing to serve the community on that basis. There is something paltry about paying or receiving half a guinea for advice or service in matters of health, perhaps involving life and death. At the same time, the control of so important a matter as health service cannot be delegated to a minority, even a professional minority. A matter that so closely affects the welfare of the community must be subject to control on democratic lines. Considering the economic conditions of the world to-day. due to so much wealth being diverted' to the production of armaments, a modest budgeting for medical service is necessary. I consider that £SOO a year and another £2OO for the upkeep of a car is a fair salary for a doctor. If his services are worth more he is so much more the benefactor of the community. Five hundred pounds is more than the income of the average householder in New Zealand, and is higher than that of the average school teacher or post office official, who nevertheless render good service to the public.

I have not seen the Government’s offer to the doctors, but was told that it was of, four figures. If so, it is too much by half, and is out 'of proportion to what is paid to salaried medical officers in other parts of the British Empire. A look through the advertisements of the ‘ Lancet ’ will ‘ show that. I consider that £I,OOO a year as a flat rate is absurdly high; £6OO at the outside is nearer the mark.—l am, etc., J. M‘Kat. Seacliff. May 18.