THE PUBLIC HEALTH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21744, 8 March 1934, Page 10

THE PUBLIC HEALTH

NATIONAL SERVICE URGED LABOUR PARTY POLICY [BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION] TIMARU, Wednesday An address was given by Mr. M. .T. Savage, Leader of tho Opposition, to a largo audience last evening. He dealt with the Parliamentary machine, wage and salary reductions, homo and foreign trade, banking and currency, marketing and guaranteed prices, and social services. Ho said it was necessary to have a completely co-ordinated national health service based upon universal insurance. To tho matter of co-ordinating medical services, the parent body, the British Medical. Association, had given considerable attention, and, in a comprehensive report covering tho wholo question the medical, dental, nursing and kindred services had provided an outline of a scheme that would bo helpful in the development oi: a national health service.

In a report to the International Labour Conference held at Geneva, in 1927, it was shown that 17 leading nations voted in favour of compulsory sickness insurance, while seven other nations voted in favour of a voluntary system. Tho present method of raising money for hospital upkeep was inequitable in its incidence, as a substantial sum had to bo raised from tho rates irrespective of the incomes of the ratepayers. A national health service, ho said, should provide (1) full medical, dental, nursing and kindred services for all citizens; (2) a financial foundation for such a service based upon universal insurance; (3) payment for services rondered; (4) tho training of students in all branches of a national health service.