NATIONAL HEALTH

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1937, Page 5

NATIONAL HEALTH

AUSTRALIAN PLAN

ENGLISH EXPERT’S PROPOSAL.

(Australian Press Association)

CANBERRA, August 13

A National Health Insurance Plan for Australia, covering all employees of the age of sixteen years and over (except those who are not manual labourers and are receiving more than £365 a year), is recommended in a report by Sir Walter Kitmear, the Controller of the Insurance Department of the British Ministry of Health, who has been engaged by the Commonwealth Government to report upon the subject.

The benefits suggested are as follows : Free medical attendance and treatment.

Sickness benefit.—Men 20/- per week ; women 15/- per week; and 3/8 per week Tor each dependent child under the age of sixteen. Disablement benefit.—Men 15/- per week, women 12/6 per week, and 3/6 weekly, for each dependent child under 16.

Compulsory contributions: Those would be: Men 1/3 per week, of which the employer and employee would pay 'seven-pence half-penny each • women. 1/2 per week, of which the employer and employee would pay 7d each. A Widow’s. Orphan’s and Old Age Contributory Pensions’ Plan, closely interlocked with the suggested Health Insurance project, is also re.ommended. Sir W. Kinnear proposes that the Commonwealth should start a pensions’ plan with a grant of one million pounds a year for the first five years, and that thereafter the grant be increased at the rate of half a million pounds yearly until it reaches a maximum of ten millions a year in 1660, when the grant would be stabilised at ten millions per annum.

Contributions by the insured persons would cease at the age of 65 years in the case of a man, and 60 years for

women. The Old Age Pensioners should have free medical benefits for life.