BANISHING FEAR

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 257, 13 October 1932, Page 4

BANISHING FEAR

SICKNESS INSURANCE

SYSTEMS IN FORCE. In the “Tribune” on Monday there was published an editorial from the current issue of the “New Zealand Medical Journal,” in which the opinion was expressed that “we should welcome a scheme, under proper safeguards, of contributory unemployment and sickness insurance.”

This subject is dealt with in a remarkable book, just published, entitled “Medicine and the State,” written by Sir Arthur Newsholme, a world authority on public health. The work comprises four volumes of international medical studies, and it is recognised by the medical profession that the author has unrivalled qualifications for the task. His studies are masterly reviews of the medical systems and public health conditions of Great Britain, Europe, and America. Tho ardent desire for security, writes Sir Arthur Newsholme, is the underlying motive for tho various forms of social insurance. Security is a primary desire in human life; and tho value of life in a community consists largely in the removal of fear and insecurity, the creative impulses of mankind being thus allowed scope for action.

A large proportion -of the total population, he says, find it difficult to meet current expenditure, and can only make provision for a “rainy day” on a basis of mutual insurance. This is especially true of sickness and unemployment. These two hazards cause a vast amount of social misery; and will continue to do so unless in prosperous days each family contributes steadily to a fund for days of sickness and unemployment. The haunting fear of disabling sickness or of being out of work at any time is a condition of affairs the malignity of which other than those concerned find it hard to realise; but that it is felt keenly by a large proportion of manual workers is beyond doubt. EUROPEAN SCHEMES. Scandinavia alone among European countries has made a success of a voluntary system of sickness insurance. In 1928 more than 65 per cent, of the total population of the country over 15 years of age were members of Staterecognised sickness clubs. The Governs meat contributes largely to the expense of this voluntary insurance. In Sweden also sickness insurance is on voluntary lines, but although tho State gives some aid, the Swedish is less successful than the Danish scheme.

In Norway there is a compulsory system for those with an income below £292 a year. The money benefit during sickness is 60 per cent, of wages. The insured person has a free choice of doctor.

Germany.—Medical attendance is commonly given to the dependent* of the insured, as well as to the insured. These two together from about 60 per cent, of tho total population. Sick benefit, as in Great Britain, lasts for 16 weeks. It is not a fixed sum as in Britain, but about half the workers’ wage. France and Italy.—ln France and Italy, there is only the beginning of compulsory sickness insurance. Great Britain.—The British system of sickness insurance, like the Continental, is not applicable to the entire population. As in most other countries, the margin of people left uninsured, above the fixed income limit, often have as great difficulty in providing medical and other benefits in sickness as the insured. This is a difficulty in all countries. In Britain the weekly, benefit of each incapacitated worker is 15/- for a period of 26 weeks; if disablement continues, 7/6 a week is paid for an indefinite period. The British medical benefit is much more restricted than that given under other European insurance schemes. The opinion is expressed by Sir Arthur Newsholme that further funds as soon as available should be utilised to make the medical benefit satisfactory and complete. In a full consideration of the merits of sickness insurance, says Sir Arthur Nowholme, one has to beer in mind not only its obvious merits. Insurance doubtless reduces the financial anxiety of the insured and his family, and it secures prompt and continued medical attendance in illness by tho chosen practitioner. This is, he states, a social as well as a personal gain.