THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23637, 22 October 1938, Page 21

THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE

ro riili EUITOB Sir,—The suggestion of a national plebiscite on the health benefits of the Social Security Act, although of interest, records merely the unofficial and tentative views of one or two local medical practitioners. The whole conduct of negotiations with the Government has been expressly left to the National Health Insurance Committee of the B.M.A. under the able chairmanship of Dr J. P. S. Jamieson and. as previously announced, that committee has decided, on account of the total disregard of its representations throughout the two years’ discussions preceding the passing of the Act, to suspend negotiations, and has advised practitioners not to accept service under the Act as it stands but to continue their service to the people as at present. This advice has been accepted practically universally by the members of the B.M.A. The Press Association report of the Minister of Health’s almost abruptly hasty reaction to the plebiscite suggestion makes interesting reading If his contention is valid then any general election provides a refendum decision on every plank in a party platform—surely an untenable argument. The “ overwhelming endorsement ” affirmed by the Minister is hardly a justifiable assumption. In the total recorded votes as known at present a change of one vote in 10 would reverse the position of the two parties, and it is not an extravagant supposition that an- adequate and lucid presentation by broadcast of the pros and cons of the health benefit proposals, without the heat and misrepresentation inseparable from the feverish atmosphere of a general election might determine a different decision on that single issue: and its probably unrealised importance would seem to justify its earnest consideration divorced from party politics rather than its cavalier rejection.

The Minister’s declaration of “ the immediate duty of all parties concerned to meet in consultation, etc.. might have proved of more ready acceptation. had not the futility of the meetings of the past two years—a futility perhaps due in great measure in the unexplained absence of the Minister himself from the committees—resulted in the present unfortunate impasse. The next moves of the officially authorised bodies will be awaited with Interest.—l am. etc.. B.M.A.