THE MEDICAL SCHEME.

Evening Star, Issue 24006, 3 October 1941, Page 4

THE MEDICAL SCHEME.

There arc the makings of a reasonable scheme in the doctors’ Bill as it Ims been amended by the Government. With the right given to the doctors to fix their own fees when the patient agrees and to draw them otherwise than by direct application to the Government, it is a different scheme from that which was first brought down. Improvements are still required for justice as well as for the best efficiency of the measure, but time and experience will be workers for these. Meanwhile, in view of the Government’s big battalions and what has been conceded to criticism, the Opposition has been justified in withdrawing the motion it had no hope of seeing passed. This requested that, in view of the war services of the medical profession and its diminished strength for home requirements, the Bill should bo postponed till after the war and consideration given to tho feasibility of relieving the community,

in the meantime, from .the taxation levied to provide a State medical service.

The Xow Zealand Branch of the British Medical Association, after the latest amendments were announced, objected in particular to two features of tho Bill. The first was to the fixation of tho basic fee by Act of Parliament, instead of by an independent tribunal having power, after hearing representations, to make adjustments from time to time to changed conditions. Tho second was the debarring of the profession from that access to the law courts “ which hitherto has been the inalienable right of every member of the community.” The Prime Minister’s offer to grant a tribunal in accordance with the procedure followed in all other fixing of wages and prices, in return for a surrender of principle in regard to the method of payment, was not likely to be accepted. Jt is surprising that it should have been made, but not more surprising than Mr Xordmcyer’s reported definition of the modern social system or Mr Webb’s comparison of the doctors’ and miners’ attitudes to the law. Sir Xordmoycr is reported to have said that “ the modern social system was built on tho State’s requiring that the license and liberty of the individual should bo curbed at almost every point in the interests of tho community as a whole.” The interests of the community mast come first where there is conflict, but all natural conceptions of democracy involve that the individual should be curbed as little as possible, in compatibility with that principle. Any other conception would be totalitarianism, against which the free nations are fighting. Mr Webb lavished praises on certain sections of miners because, after they had contemplated adopting a “ go-slow ” policy in war time, they abandoned that intention at his urging. The doctors never “threatened to go on strike.” They made it clear that they would attend tho needs of their patients, though not under the provisions of the Bill. All differences should now bo in a fair way to being smoothed ont. The right of appeal to the courts, for doctors, is less important in practice than in principle, because in practice it is hardly ever resorted to. That should make it easier for the Government to concede a right which belongs to all other members of the community.