MEDICAL SERVICE

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 February 1942, Page 8

MEDICAL SERVICE

STATEMENT BY MINISTER

OAMARU, February 17. T’he Minister for Health (Mr Nordmeyer) proposes portly to present a report dealing with the cost of the Social Security Medical Scheme, covering the first three months’ operations. Interviewed at Oamaru to-day, Mr Nordmeyer said the medical scheme was proceeding very satisfactorily. He had asked’ departmental officers for a report on the costs of the scheme, which had now been in operation for three months. In that connection allowance must be made for what the Minister termed “the time lag." Many patients did not pay cash on receiving treatment, which meant, that a month at least passed before doctors rendered their ac|counts, and it might be another month before payments were made, aft-r which the patient would make application for the Social Security refund. Although opinions might differ, the general impression was that, doctors were busier than hitherto, and whde that would indicate people were tak--1 ing advantage of the scheme, it must also be remembered that many medical men were with the forces, which, of course, meant more work for the doctors at home.

Questioned about flic pharmaceutical scheme, Mr Nordmeyer said that I diis was keeping well within the estimates. It. was noteworthy, however, that there had been some change in the balance of business, and as an instance, the speaker cited the case of the United Friendly Society cii.suensarv in Wellington. Before the introduction of the Social Security scheme, people came there from all parts of Wellington for their prescriptions, but no wit was noteworthy that suburban chemists were handling la proportion ol the work hitheito ! oerfoimed bv the U.l’.S. pharmacy, which was situated in the heart ol

the city. . . Mi* Nordmeyer also mentioned inat, with the growth of ihe pharmacevifical scheme, there had been a marked i failing off in the consumption ol I patent medicine.-..