NATIONAL HEALTH

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1935, Page 10

NATIONAL HEALTH

DEMOCRATS’ REFORM POLICY. OUTLINE BY MR. H. CAVE. “Ever since the introduction of the Public Health Act of 1900, and our Health Department of to-day,” said the Democrat candidate for the New Plymouth seat, Mr. H. Cave, when speaking at Fitzroy last night, “one has been forcibly impressed with the failure of subsequent Governments to introduce the necessary legislation to keep New Zealand abreast of the times in public health. In order to meet this vital need the Democrat Party has prepared a comprehensive scheme for public health and welfare, including a national health insurance and superannuative pensions scheme. “The national health insurance scheme provides for all workers who do not receive remuneration exceeding £267 a year, their wives and dependents up to the age of 16 years. Those insured may have any doctor they desire, and any doctor may participate. It does not interfere with the ordinary activities. of friendly societies or insurance companies. Its benefits cover free medical, dental, specialist and hospital attendance. “The matter of efficient national control of tuberculosis has been concerning the medical profession of New Zealand for some time, and the moment is opportune for the introduction of a scheme similar to that which has been in existence in Europe for many years. Although we have reasonably good sanatoria and very fair hospital accommodation in the Dominion for the more advanced cases, we have no provisions for the adequate protection of our children and young men and women against this scourge. We have no satisfactory provisions for the early diagnosis of the disease nor any control of cases being treated in their own homes. “The introduction of a national tuberculosis scheme would cover the complete revision of present provisions for treatment of tuberculosis at sanatoria and public hospitals, the inauguration of a dispensary system for diagnosis and treatment of early tuberculosis, and for the guidance of cases being treated in their own homes, and the provision foi a good specialist and such district tuberculosis officers as may be deemed necessary to supervise and carry .out the whole scheme.

"The matter of cancer control is left at present almost entirely to hospital boards for treatment and to , voluntary contribution for cancer research, although it is of such vital importance that it should be handled with greater efficiency by the Health Department. Cancer is- one of civilisation’s greatest menaces to health, and it must be handled with determination. . • “The Dominion has already gone to the expense of obtaining a hospital expert, Dr. McEachern, to report on our present hospital system,” continued Mr. Cave, “and several of our more observant medical men who have travelled abroad have voluntarily offered suggestions in the same direction. At the earliest opportunity we propose to call a conference with the hospital authorities, the medical profession and the Health Department with the object of investigating all matters pertaining to the hospital system. The party also proposes to investigate the incidence of malnutrition among school children, and to provide such remedial measures as may be necessary, including the free issue of milk at schools.”

The party proposed to finance its scheme of national health insurance by a contributory tax on the same principle as the unemployment tax, but without the levies imposed thereunder, said Mr. Cave. “We shall alter the basis of the unemployment tax to include a contributory tex for the purpose of this scheme. The total tax, covering both our unemployment scheme and our national health and pensions scheme will be reduced from 8d in the £1 to 6d in the £l. The annual levy of £1 will be abolished. The cost of medical attention to both young and old is a heavy burden to those of very limited resources. “A detailed statement of estimated revenue and expenditure to cover these schemes for public health and pensions is: Revenue: Contributory tax £3,009,000, present local bodies and other contributions £1,150,000, health vote £1,250,000, Pensions vote £1,650,000, recoveries £200,000; total £7,250,000. Expenditure: Health insurance £1,000,000, hospital and other benefits £600,000, pensions £4,000,000, tuberculosis and cancer schemes, £50,000, hospital and health system, £1,500,000, other - items £50,000; total £7,200,000. “These figures have been arrived at only after the most careful examination and analysis. The estimated costs are based on existing budgetary charges and other items such as‘the free medical and other benefits of the health insurance scheme are based on the results of existing schemes in various parts of the world, as applied to our Dominion population and conditions.”