HEALTH SCHEME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23009, 9 April 1938, Page 17

HEALTH SCHEME

UNIVERSAL BENEFITS ' - - SUGGESTED PROCEDURE - DR. M. H. WATT'S EVIDENCE f WORK OF HOSPITAL BOARDS •| [BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION^ ■ | WELLINGTON, Friday Lengthy evidence was given by the pircctor-Genfcral of Health. Dr. M. H. ilyfatt. at to-day's sitting of the Special parliamentary Committee which is hearing evidence regarding tho Government's health service and State superannuation schemes.After outlining the activities of his department, Dr. Watt said the general arrangements for giving effect to tho proposed universal general practitioner service, free; to all members of the • community, would presumably bo such a3 to give every qualified and registered practitioner tho right to participate and at the same time provide freedom of choice as between patient and doctor. Contract with Doctors The arrangements would involve a general contract between the State and medical practitioners, he said. To that end it was probablo that regulations would be mado prescribing the terms of service to be given by doctors. They would define, inter alia, persons for whose treatment the practitioner was responsible, and the range <>f professional and other services, including the supply of drugs and appliances, which the practitioner was to give. Jt was anticipated that a capitation Vstem of remuneration would be adopted, Dr. Watt continued. Doctors would be invited to take service on the terms and conditions offered. List of those accepting would be mado available to the public, who would be 'invited to take steps to have their names placed on the list of the doctor 'of their choice. A detailed procedure would, of course, be required to be laid down. Available Practitioners Dr Watt said that a return compiled by -the department at the request of the National Health Insurance Investigation Committee showed that, in 1937 there were approximately 724 practitioners who might be available for general practitioners' servico in some degree. Of these, 508 were regarded as available for full-time general practice. In addition the 724 there were Ilk specialists and 1 practitioners of different classes in fulltime hospital board employ, llie hgiues indicated that the average number of persons per general practitionei about 2000. . Special provision might be required in respect of persons entitled to receive medical treatment jttendanpft under/arrangements made dj friendly societies, medical associations or Otlier bodies or ami already in force, said Dr. \\att. In order to avoid undue disturbance of derangements and perhaps lossto irrouos of persons concerned it might fe necessary to enable the body or institution concerned to receive out of the fund contributions representing amounts which would otherwise be expended in providing medical practitioners' service under the general ar"leceipt of such contributions would, of course, be conditional on the body or institution providing a service at least equivalent to that provided under the general arrangements. Hospital Treatment Referring to free hospital or sanatorium treatment * or , ® . s said it was assumed this benefit. \\as to be of the nature and scope described in the National Health Insurance Investigation Committees rep°£- If s0 it would comprise full rel,ef / ®i Eonal liability, in respect of care received in or at public ' , and sanatoria, in addition to f a ™ relief from personal liability for car received in private hospitals. - General arrangements for Holding this benefit might be -.as follows Hospital boards, in .consideration of payments at prescribed ™ te3 , . made from the social security fund m respect of care which was the snbiect Of hospital and sanatoria benefit would be required to accept such Payments in full satisfaction of the c ° st °* care provided. With respect to hospital care received in private payments at prescribed rates made toward the cost, either to the per- ' son liable therefor or to thc proprietor of the private hospital. It was assumed free medicme3 would include appliances. , Proposed Maternity Benefits -Dealing with the proposed free maternity treatment, # including the cost of maintenance m a maternit home, Dr. Watt said that arrangements for this benefit were not gone Into fully in the Investigation Committee's report, but it was implied that arrangements would involve the P paration of terms of service for medical practitioners, midwives and matern nurses.and general contracts tor pa - yment' of fees direct from the B °2l' o security fund to those rendering the service. However, further consideration might suggest the desirability of ndo P ing a system of grants in order to save administrative expense far orit pronortion to the value of the benefit. Dr. Watt also discussed procedure regarding various supplementary benefits nroposed under the scheme many of; the services being at present supplied by hospital boards.