MEDICAL SCHEME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22754, 14 June 1937, Page 8

MEDICAL SCHEME

NATIONAL INSURANCE MATTER NOT SETTLED " PREMATURE CONJECTURES " STATEMENT BY HON. P. FRASER "Practically all the statements which have been made soconcerning the Government's proposals for a national health insurance scheme are pure conjecture," said the Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Eraser, in an interview in Auckland on Saturday. "1 have noticed several reports in the newspapers, most of them emanating from Christchurch, but the investigations into the whole matter are still far from being completed, and, accordingly, these reports must not be regarded as authoritative." It was pointed out to Mr. Eraser that one statement estimated the possible annual cost of the scheme at £3,00G,000 and suggested that the sum might bo raised by an additional wages and income tax of 7d jn the pound. Wide Inquiries "No decision has yet been reached regarding the scope of the scheme," Mr. Eraser said. "We have been engaged for months now in examining all aspects of health insurance. A special committee consisting of members of Parliament and departmental officials was appointed. and a questionnaire was distributed among all interested organisations and individuals,' inviting their comments on all aspects of the subject. "Numerous replies were received to the questionnaire," Mr. Fraser continued, "and the committee was engaged for some time ija collecting data from these answers. It also took oral evidence from witnesses, whose replies to the questionnaire were regarded as being of special importance. In addition, the committee has been examining the operation of health insurance schemes in other countries, and generally assembling complete information for the guidance of the Government and of Parliament. Report Not Ready "The present position is that the com* mittee has not yet completed its report on its investigations. When that report is completed, it will be delivered to myself as Minister of Health, and on the evidence disclosed we shall have to formulate our scheme. It will have to be approved by the Cabinet and by the Government as a whole before it comes before Parliament and, even then, an opportunity will be provided for interested parties to appear before a select committee of the House of Representatives to make any further suggestions or recommendations."