FIRM REJECTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23870, 22 January 1941, Page 6

FIRM REJECTION

STATE MEDICAL PLAN ATTITUDE OF DOCTORS "HAVE NOTHING TO. DO WITH IT" "The doctors have flatly refused to have anything to do with the scheme," stated I)r. J. P. S. Jamioson, bf Nelson, chairman of the national health insurance committee of the New Zealand division of the British Medical Association, last night in a telephone conversation with the Hkhauj, in reference to the general practitioner scheme.

"We have decided to have nothing to do with it and have explained our attitude over and over again,'' he added.

Dr. .Jarniesoii .stated that the doctors wore not going to concern themselves with tho regulations referred to this week by the Minister of Health, the Hon. 11. T. Armstrong. The doctors were not going to betray colleagues who were on active service overseas.

The printing of millions of cards and documents, resulting in greatly increased expenditure from the already overdrawn Social Security Fund, said Dr. Jamicson, formed a strange war economy and a strange diversion of energy. Doctors agreed absolutely with the Prime Minister, the Jit. Hon. P. Fraser, in his statement that the only tiling that really and fundamentally mattered at present was the national war effort, and they were not going to concern themselves with Mr. Armstrong's regulations and cards and promises, for theso wore an interference with the war effort, apart from the inherent defects of the system itself.

Mr, Armstrong said on Monday that an important feature of the preliminary work in connection with the general practitioner service had been the printing of millions of cards and the arrangement of office accommodation lor staffs in the various centres. "The Public Service Commissioner.'' added the Minister, "lias the job of staffing well in hand, and the Government Printing Office is ready to proceed with the balance of the printing just as soon as the regulations are finished."

FEE NOT YET FIXED PROVISION OF FINANCE [BY TELEGRAPH TRESS ASSOCIATION*] CIIKI ST C HTJRC li, Tuesday A denial that a definite figure per capita had boon fixed for patients treated hy doctors under the general practitioner scheme which is being (introduced by the Government was made by the Minister of Finance, the Hon, AY. Nash, to-day, in an interview. "No definite sum has been mentioned," Mr. Nash replied, when it was suggested to him that the offer of 15s yearly for each patient would be paid to doctors who contracted to give service.

.Asked if the finances of the Social Security Fund would provide for the additional general service. Mr. Nash said: "The necessary finance to carry on the contracts will be made available."