NATIONAL HEALTH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22971, 24 February 1938, Page 10

NATIONAL HEALTH

SOUTtt AFRICA INSURANCE PROPOSALS FREE DOCTOR AND MEDICINE [from oxm OWN correspondent] JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 14 A scheme to provide medical and other similar benefits to the people of South Africa, at a cost of £5,331,691 a year, is being considered by the Government. The scheme, which is outlined in the annual report of the Department of Public Health, would provide for the following:— 1. A general medical practitioner service including free drugs, medicines and curative appliances. 2. Specialists' services. 3. A payment toward the cost of hospital treatment of those employed * persons and their dependants who would in present circumstances be required by provincial hospitals to make some payment toward the cost. 4,. The payment of a lump sum on confinement of an employed woman or the wife of an employed man. 5. A payment of a lump sum for the cost of burial of an employed person or his dependants. 6. A cash payment during periods of sickness. " The adoption of a scheme of national health insurance such as that recently recommended by the departmental committee of inquiry," stated Sir Edward Thornton, Secretary for Public Health, "is one which would make an enormous improvement in the public health of South Africa. Broadly, the scheme will apply to all employed persons, including dependants of either sex or all races who are resident in the area of local authorities and are earning not more than £4OO a year." The funds required for the provision and administration of these benefits will be derived from contributions by the Government, employers and employed people in the proportion of approximately: Government, 14} per cent; employers, 49 per cent; and employees, 36} per cent. Government actuaries have calculated that if the scheme is to cost £5,331,691 a year, the Government would have to find £776,735, employers £2,663,315, and employees .£1,891,641.