NATIONAL MEDICINE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26770, 13 May 1948, Page 7

NATIONAL MEDICINE

AUSTRALIAN SCHEME PROPOSED NEW SERVICE CANBERRA, May 12. The Government hopes to introduce legislation in September for a national medical service, according to Mr Chifley, who stated that the free medicine scheme commencing on June 1 was the first part of a national health plan to cost between £15,000,000 and £20,000,000 a year. Detailed proposals for the free medical service have not yet been submitted to Cabinet by the Minister of Health, Mr N. E. McKenna, but the proposed service is believed to include six main points. The points are:— 1. The iree use of doctors and hospital services. 2. The absorption of most private doctors into service, with compensation for those who join by a declared date. 3. Freedm of selection of doctors by patients. 4. Control of all hospitals, with some minor exceptions. 5. The establishment of diagnostic and research’ centres. 6. The extension of outback medical facilities.

Mr Chifley revealed that he had received a report on the prospects of a national superannuation scheme, but that he would not provide for the scheme in his new Budget. Treasury officials have spent nearly a year examining various plans to give all Australians a retiring allowance at 65 for men and 60 for women Chemists have no fears that the free medicine scheme to be introduced on June 1 will lead to an increased consumption of medicine, according to the president of the Pharmaceutical Service Guild, Mr E. Scott. “ The plan appears to be an improvement on the New Zealand scheme,” he said. “ The quality and prices of medicines are guaranteed by the formulary, which was compiled by experts. The guild has accepted the principle that nothing shall be done under the scheme to destroy chemist and customer relationships,”