MEDICAL PANEL SYSTEM

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19334, 26 May 1937, Page 14

MEDICAL PANEL SYSTEM

HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN DOMINION SUBSCRIBERS ALLOCATION TO DOCTORS (Per Press Association.) CHBISTCHUBCH, last night. In Christchurch there is keen discussion among doctors over the proposal .that, under the Government's intended health insurance scheme, all general medical practitioners should be brought under some panel system such as exists in Great Britain. No official statement is being made either in Government quarters or by the representatives of- the medical profession, but il is admitted on both sides that the panel system is included as :in integral feature in the proposals being considered for the general health scheme. City medical men discussed the panel system at a meeting held lust week, when they were addressed on the health insurance scheme generally by the president of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association, Dr. T. 1). 11. Stout, of Wellington. It is stated authoritatively that the panel system suggested'for-inclusion in the'national health scheme will involve allotting all the recognised practitioners a maximum number ' of patients, each ranging according to present proposals, between 2000 and 3000 subscribers to the general scheme, which'will be universal. If the present wishes of the Government are carried out, the subscribers will pay an annual contribution for this service, ranging from £1 annually, which is the present suggested minimum, to a higher subscription, according to income. Possible £3OOO Income It is intended under this scheme that the subscribers will be given the opportunity at the outset to nominate their choice of a doctor, but that where a doctor receives more than the average of allocation there will have to be a turnover to another doctor. This scheme would ensure medical men a maximum income of at least £2OOO, the actual figure being the number of patients allocated to each doctor.

It is stated that in the discussions held by medical men in Christchurch, the figure has been placed as high as £3OOO. The city population figures bear this out.

It is also stated that a scheme is being considered providing that, where a subscriber wishes to consult a specialist as well as his panel doctor, he will be entitled to do so, but that the specialist's fees will be in addition to his annual contribution to the national scheme funds. Apparently, the allocation of patients under the scheme will be worked out in a way that will allow, as much as possibe, the recognition of subscribers' preferences as well as regional convenience.

These are only the broad general outlines of the scheme which the medical profession has been asked to consider, apparently, by the investigating committee set up by the Government to prepare the national scheme for health and superannuation benefits on a compulsory contributory basis.