NATIONAL HEALTH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19132, 29 September 1936, Page 9

NATIONAL HEALTH

medical service reform STATE’S PROPOSALS REMOVING ECONOMIC BAR "We do not want a poor medica service geared by the poor man’: purse, but we want the best to be available to everyone in the Dominies whenever it is required," said Dr 1), G. McMillan, M.P., for Dunedii West, concerning the national healtl scheme to be introduced by the Government next year, in an election ad dress at Tc Papupa. "There i: nothing radical in the proposal: of the Government, nothing that i; not in operation elsewhere in the world," he said. Speaking of the need for roionn o: the medical service in New Zealand Dr. McMillan said there was a superabundance of it, as there was with most things, but there was an eeonomii bar which Held it beyond the mean.' of many citizens. Not one in 100 re reived a medical overhaul once a year Many received no medical .care ai all It was praclically a disgrace that con •lit ions'should have been allowed It fontimie so long in a country priding itself tin ils high standard 01 living. "Medicine in New Zealand is at tlit crossroads, 1 " said Dr. McMillan. Tin Government aimed to remove the ecu aoinie bar which had been responsibh for tlie tragic failure to prevent, curable diseases and pain-and premature death. It-desired 1.0 give every citizen sound -physical health and a Jongei ox peel at ion of life through tidviec from the best doctors available rathei than through bottles of medicine. "The Government intends to organise the system on a s.ound economic basis so' that the services will be available to everybody. There arc doctors, chemists, dentists and nurse.sitting day and night, beside tele phones waiting to give the service which thousands want but cannot pay for. Organisation is required.” DOCTOR’S ATTITUDE. The public health service could be reorganised to include all medical services, or a commission could be aj>pointed to control them. It was not anticipated that the doctors would strenuously oppose the scheme, the speaker continued. The average doctor felt under an obligation to attend to his practice but could not afford time to carry an active medical service into the community. Even if he did, he would receive no thanks fo- it. It was hoped to improve the personal relationship between patient and doctor by removing a-general cause of irritation between . them —the fee. Direct and indirect taxation and special moderate contributions could be paid on a collective basis. The costs u Ihe end would lie no more than inder the present system. Expenditure would be distributed note wisely. It was intended to spend £(>000 annually on research. Ifospi,al services had to be reorganised rad made available where required. I'reatment fees, which were crippling o the working class at present, would lave to bo made less costly'. Economic provision for a workers' ’amily during times .of illness and ■rentment would bo part of the scheme, [)r. McMillan said. In this way it ,vas hoped persons requiring attenion would receive it at the earliest icssiblo moment, thus cheeking the •onscquences of the delay under the > resent system. The lives of persons >ver middle age were sufficiently Taught with many complaints to iccessitato medical .oversight. The tew scheme would provido for comilete examination once a’year. Morels or, it was proposed to spend money in the mothers of the country, a lumanitnrian service the Government, ’olt fully' justified in providing. A director of Maori Hygiene was suggested. AID FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS The State intended to support mcdiml students financially during their studies and in return would expect .hem after qualifying to serve the icople for a time. An additional advantage would be the assistance given •hildren of poor parents, enabling diem to study medicine. It was re■ognised that nowadays it was not so inieh the size of the head but of the iiirse that governed those studying nedicine. • Rewards for outstanding service would also be instituted under i supervisory control. "Altogether there are 28 nations >f the w.orld possessing national Health services,” said Dr. McMillan. ‘The British Dominions and America ire among the largest civilised countries without them. New Zealanders, however, are no longer prepared to lag behind and see their fellows suffering without working and organising to improve their lot." Dr. McMillan paid a tribute to the friendly societies for laying the fonnlation for a national scheme. Regarding the national superannuation scheme, also to be introduced next year, Dr. McMillan said it was the Government’s duty to see that everybody set aside so much of his warnings for provident purposes, irrespective of income. Every worker n-ould have to contribute to the new fund to be able to draw from it at a certain ago. It would be of equal advantage to all. The schemes already in operation would n.ot be affected, except that State subsidies would probably be increased. "When the scheme is introduced," concluded Dr. McMillan, "a new day will dawn. There will be rest for the weary, income for the needy and tor ill there will be the satisfaction that ::omes from the knowledge of having lontributed something toward the welfare our our fellow-men."