FEE-FOR-SERVICE

Evening Star, Issue 25716, 13 February 1946, Page 8

FEE-FOR-SERVICE

GOVERNMENT WOULD PREFER SALARIED DOCTORS MINISTER ADDRESSES B.M.A. (P.A.) AUCKLAND. February 12. An appeal to members of the medical profession to accept the Government's remuneration for services and to claim directly from the Government anaj, not through the individual patient was made by the Minister of Health, Mr Nordmeyer, at the civic reception to the delegates to the New Zealand Medical Conference in the Town Hall to-night. Subdued but ironical laughter was fairly general after some of the Minister's statements which, however, were made and received in good humour. " There is no doubt that there is agreement that men in many branches of the profession could be rewarded only by an annual salary, and the Government believes a number of other' men would rather be on a salary," said Mr Nordmeyer. He had not noticed any deterioration in those men on a salary, just because they were being paid that way, but by far the greater majority of medical men preferred to be rewarded by pay'ment for each service actually* rendered, continued Mr Nordmeyer. Clapping followed this statement. * " I want to say," proceeded the Minister. " that while the Government believes that a salary is the best, and that the less satisfactory way is by capitation, it is possible if the Government and the profession get;'together to agree on a ' fee-for-service ' as a satisfactory way of paying for service actually rendered. That compromise in 1941. when the profession was given the right to claim from the patient and the patient could claim a_ refund from the Government, has outlived its usefulness. At least half of the general practitioners are already claiming direct from the Government," said the Minister. "They accept 7s 6d in full settlement, and are not putting the public to trouble nor putting the Health Department to the expense of £40.000 for a cumbersome system of payment." Tf others would adopt that nrocedure he believed they would,give greater satisfaction to the nublic and to the profc" : g : " r ' itself.