B.M.A. OBJECTION

Grey River Argus, 5 December 1940, Page 6

B.M.A. OBJECTION

To Medical Service BY MUTUAL AGREEMENT. TPer Press Association] WELLINGTON December 4 z The Government’s proposed general medical practitioner service would make the work of the medical profession nigh impossible under pre; sent conditions, said Dr S. D. Rhind, honorary general secretary of the to-day. At the beginning of September, he said, the 8.M.A., was asked by the Minister of Health if it could give some constructive proposals . for working a general medical service This problem has been discussed for the past four years without any satisfactory basis having been reached The Minister was notified, after a conference, that the B.M.A. was unable to submit a scheme for a general service which would satisfy the requirements of the Government anu be practicable for the medical profession to undertake in the existing abnormal circumstances. The / profession is extremely overworked at present, and any revolutionary change in general medical practice would make work almost impossible. “Since* September we have heard nothing from the Minister until the broadcast last evening,” said Dr. Rhind, “and we know nothing of the Government’s intentions for the future. It would appear the Government is seeking to make private treaties with individual doctors, and it remains to be seen whether a sufficient number of medical men will accept its offer, to make its scheme work.”