Panel for Doctors

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 123, 26 May 1937, Page 5

Panel for Doctors

Could Make £2OOO a Year UNDER NATIONAL HEALTH SCHEME Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. Ib Christchurch there is keen discussion among doctors over the proposal that under the Government’s intended health insurance scheme, all general medical practitioners should be brought under some such panel system as exists in Great BritairfT No official statement is being made either in Government quarters or by representatives of the medical profession, but it is admitted on both sides that the panel system is included as an integral feature in the proposals being considered for the general health scheme. City medical men discussed the panel syetdn at a meeting held last week, when they were addressed on the health scheme generally by the president of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association, Dr. T. D. M. Stout, of Wellington. It is stated authoritatively that the panel system suggested for inclusion in the national health scheme will involve allotting all recognised practitioners a maximum number of patients, each ranging according to the present proposals between 2000 and 3000 subscribers to the general scheme, which will be universal. If the present wishes of the Government are carried out, the subscribers will pay an annual contribution for this service ranging from £1 annually, the present suggested minimum, to a higher subscription according to income. It is intended under this scheme that subscribers will be given an opportunity at the outset to nominate theif choice of doctor, but that where a doctor receives more than the average of allocation, there will have to be a turnover to another doctor. This scheme would ensure medical men a maximum income of at least £2OOO, the actual figure being the number of patients allocated to each doctor. It is stated that in discussions held by medical men in Christchurch the figure has been placed as high as £3OOO and the city population figures bear this out. It is also stated that the scheme j being considered provided that where a fe.ibscrib *r wishes to consult a specialist as well as his panel doctor, he will be entitled to do so, but that the specialist’s fees will be in addition to his annual contribution to the national scheme funds. Apparently the allocation of patients under the scheme will be worked out in a way that will allow as touch as possible recognition of subscribers’ preferences as well as regional convenience. These are only the broad general outlines of the scheme which the medical profession has been asked to consider apparently by the investigating committee set up by the Government to prepare a national scheme for health and superannuation benefits on a compulsory contributory basis.