DOCTORS’ STAND

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20492, 28 February 1941, Page 6

DOCTORS’ STAND

FREE MEDICAL PLAN WILL NOT BE OPERATED PROFESSOR’S ATTITUDE STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT (Per Press Association.) WANGANUI, this day. The attitude of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association’ toward the Government’s intention to introduce the general practitioner service under the Social Security Act to-morrow, is as announced last week, the president, Dr. Alexander Wilson, of Wanganui, explained. “The position is perfectly clear,” said Dr. Wilson. “We shall have nothing to do with this Government national practitioner scheme.” “What are you going to do. about it? he was asked. “Nothing at all,” Dr. Wilson replied. “The Government has been told that its general practitioner service scheme cannot operate. It would he injurious to the nation’s health.

Not Going on Strike”

“We are not going on strike,” Dr. Wilson added, “but we do say we are not going to become a party to a scheme which would bring about mediocrity in the profession and would be deleterious to the public health. “We are not against a national insurance service. ,We are very much for it; but the Government has been advised of our requirements in that direction and we cannot accept proposals which would be injurious to the public health or deleterious to the high standard of medical practice in New Zealand.”

At a meeting of the Wanganui division of the British Medical Association last night the following resolution was passed; “That the press be requested to inform the public that no member of the Wanganui division of the British Medical Association will sign medical benefit cards.” The Wanganui division extends from Patea and Taihape in the north to Marlon in the south.