NATIONAL MEDICAL PLAN

Taranaki Daily News, 29 April 1930, Page 9

NATIONAL MEDICAL PLAN

B.M.A. SCHEME EXPLAINED

CONTRIBUTORY INSURANCE-

SERVICE AT THE HOSPITALS

(British Official Wireless.) Rec. 5.5 p.m. Rugby, April 26. The council ol the British Medical Association has'put forward for discussion its scheme for a general medical service for the nation. The echemc would provide all except institutional services by means of a national contributory insurance scheme, including on a compulsory basis, not only all insured persons as at present defined but all dependents of such persons, all voluntarily insured persons and their dependents and other persons of small means at present outside the insured system, as well as patients formerly treated under the poor law. Contributions in the lastnamed class would come from a responsible local authority. Whilst hospital service would not be included under the compulsory insurance scheme, voluntary contributory schemes for this service are suggested. ‘ ; . It is urged that payment of all visiting staffs of hospitals, specialists, consultants, surgeons and doctors is essential : in future hospitals will increasingly be used not only for the sick poor, for whom they were originally intended, but by all classes. It is suggested that the effect of the payment of specialists for hospital work will be to reduce fees for private work.