DEADLOCK OVER AUSTRALIAN FREE MEDICINE SCHEME

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22656, 5 June 1948, Page 5

DEADLOCK OVER AUSTRALIAN FREE MEDICINE SCHEME

CANBERRA, June 4,

The impasse between the Federal Government and the British Medical Association on the free medicine scheme which was introduced throughout Australia last Tuesday and which is under almost a complete boycott by the doctors, has been discussed in the House of Representatives. Asked by Mr. R. James whether tne Government would confer with the association to try to iron out differences the Minister of Labour and National Service, Mr. E. J. Holloway, said that public health had to be safeguarded even if the progress of the scheme was affected. He added that the Minister of Health and Social Services, Senator N. E. McKenna, was still in negotiation with the association.

In Sydney Dr. J. Hunter, secretary of the association, said he knew of no fresh talks between the Government and the association, but added that the association was ready to resume talks. He reiterated that the association would not budge from its present attitude until the restricted formulary and other obnoxious conditions were removed. “The doctors are determined not to be intimidated by union threats or uy pressure from the Communist-inspired organisations.’ ” he said. Officers of the New South Wales Trades and Labour Council hope to confer with the British Medical Association because the council considers that threats to declare the doctors black or deregister them will only make matters worse. Doctors who are using the Government forms for prescriptions are very few. In Hobart the first prescription on a Government form has been received . by a chemist but wilt never be cashed. The chemist intends to have it framed.