THE B.M.A.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1940, Page 7

THE B.M.A.

* PROPOSED SERVICE

© (Per Press Association-Copy right)

WELLINGTON, Dec. 4

The Government's proposed general medical practitioner service- would make the work of the medical profession nigh impossible under the present conditions, said Dr S. D. Rhind, honorary general secretary of the B.M.A. to-day. At the beginning ov September, he said, the B.M.A. was asked by the Minister of Health if it could give 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 general service, which would satisfy the requirements of the Government ,and he practicable for the medical profession to undertake in the existing abnormal circumstances. The profession was extremely overworked at present and any revolutionary change in general medical practice would make the 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. T+ would appear the Government is seeking to make private treaties with individual doctors, and it remains to he scon whether a sufficient number of medical men will accent it’s offer to make it’s scheme work.” '