DOCTORS' FEES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22226, 28 September 1935, Page 17

DOCTORS' FEES

Sir,—Galen, in his persistent advocacy of a national health insurance scheme, invariably accuses of being sentimental all those who do not agree with his attacks upon the mythical minimum fee charged by doctors. Ho utterly ignores tho overwhelming evidence of social workers and others that doctors charge according to tho patients' incomes, and thereby is most likely to prejudice his cause in the minds of all logically-thinking people. If a sense of truth and justice is sentimental, then it would be a matter or reproach were any of us without it. E.D.M.D. ' Sir, — Your correspondent ''Galen" still tries to show that doctors fees are too high.. This may or may not bo so. The price charged is, in my opinion, reasonable in view of all tho ski if ul attention a patient receives, which is often unpleasant. There is one important point to be noted, and this is that, doctors have to keep up to date and move with tho march of science, which means new books, instruments drugs, if they are to be any use to the sick and injured. My own experience has shown me that if a patient is not able to pay beyond the first fee, treatment and advice is given free. A doctor always has the option and right to reduce his fees if his patient is not financially able to pay the full one. With so much free hospital treatment now given doctors in general have a hard task to keep up appearances. It is often said, "A doctor is the first _to bo sent for and last, if ever, paid. Grateful Patient No. 2.