HEALTH SCHEME

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1937, Page 6

HEALTH SCHEME

GOVERNMENT INSURANCE ALTERNATIVE OF B.M.A. ' ADDRESS BY DR. G. HOME Deprecating haste in adopting any health insurance scheme, the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce decided last night to write to the Associated Chambers suggesting that the Government be urged to give full consideration to the counterproposals of the British Medical Associa-, tion. Dr. G. Home outlined both of the present plans to the meeting. The Government's tentative proposal was a general practitioner system, which would be free to every man, woman and child, but which would not include all medical services, said Dr. Home. Everybody would be entitled to free attention by a doctor, to maternity benefits and to free attention in public hospitals or to a contribution towards private hospital charges, but surgery, anaesthetics, specialist services etc. were not included, patients having to make their own arrangements for these. The counter-proposal of the B.M.A. was to divide people into four groups according to their means. The first, with incomes not exceedihg old age pension, unemployed and sustenance rates, 'would receive complete medical services free of cost to themselves. The second group, with incomes ranging up to about £250 a year, would receive the same service, but would share the cost with the Govemment. The third, with incomes roughly between £250 and £500 a year, would receive only those benefits which it needed most, collectively contributing the cost on the insurance principle. The fourth group, with still higher incomes, would not be brought compulsorily into the scheme but could join on the same terms as the third group. Not Opposed to Prihclple, The B.M.A. was not opposed to the idea of health insurance, provided it was on evolutionary lines, Dr. Home, said. It /was not an urgent necessity as it was in manufacturing towns, but it would be good to make a start before a big problem had developed. What the B.M.A. did want was careful consideration of the whole position before any costly system, which it might be difficult to change later, was adopted. It was estimated that the Government scheme would cost about 333,500,000, or 8d in the pound on incomes. Dealing with the grouping in the B.M.A. proposal, Dr. Home- said many people in what might be called the indigent group were sent to hospital not because they required hospital treatment but because they could not be properly cared for in their own honies. A system ,of district "nursing with visits by doctors would relieve the hospitals and be more agreeable to the patients. , . The particular need of the second group was not domestic attention by doctors, which it could well afford, but some pro.vision for more serious illnesses. This group would make its own arrangements with its own general practitioners but would contribute to the fund for hospital and specialist benefits. This would relieve hospital costs. The B.M.A. proposal was based on the working of friendly societies, which had been most successful. The' standard of medical work done for friendly societies was high because the doctors were engaged in private practice and could afford to giye lodge patients better service than was received by patients under the panel system in other countries. No Reason For Compulsion. Was the Government plan necessary or desirable? The better paid section of the community arranged , its own medical attention and preferred to do so, said Dr. Home. There was no reason why health insurance should be made compulsory for that section any more than fire insurance. Those of smaller means could join friendly 'society organisations. Only those with the most slender means were without general practitioner service. On medical grounds a service sjich as the Government proposed. seemed superfluous. On economic grounds it was estimated that it would cost £3,500,000 in extra taxation. The Government could imprqye the health of the people in other ways, such as diet, exercise.and clothing. The care of the teeth alone was a big thing, and it was the greatest reproach to adolescent New Zealand that it had probably the worst teeth in the world, because New Zealand ate more sugar and drank less milk than other races. The greatest dietetic crime was to remove the husk from wheat that people might have white flour. Improved diet was the greatest and least expensive insUrance of all. Experience had shown that free hospital treatment meant an increase in the number of patients. Medical superintendents of hospitals predicted that it would mean increased demand on hospital accommodation, which was already costly. ; Answeijjng questions, Dr. Home said that friendly societies would continue under the B.M.A. scheme, but under the Government proposal he thought they would gradually be absorbed.