BURDEN ON HOSPITALS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23023, 28 April 1938, Page 15

BURDEN ON HOSPITALS

AUCKLAND CRITICISM Aspects of the Government's health insurance scheme were criticised by two Auckland doctors, Mr. F. Macky, president of the Auckland centre of the British Medical Association, and Dr. S. de Clive Lowe, in addresses at a meeting of the Junior Chamber of Commerce yesterday. Mr. H. L. M. Buisson presided. The extent of inquiries by the' British Medical Association into national health insurance in the past three years was reviewed by Mr. Macky. He contended that the NewZealand scheme covered only minor treatment and operations, and that there would be an increase in hospital costs, specialists having to be paid. He also considered that the scneme would be detrimental to the spirit the profession, and that medical serf, vice would be reduced to a cold-blooded> legal contract. Preventive and research service were absent from the scheme, which aimed only at treating immediate ailments. Dr. de Clive Lowe considered that the standard of work would suffer, and wotdd become the standard set bv a doctor just qualified. In addition, the panel was too large, and there would be overloading of hospitals because doctors would refer difficult cases to them. Other aspects were the supervision of the profession by Government officials, the desire on the part of the Government to keep down costs, and the fact that remuneration would probably be insufficient.