ENGLISH CHARGE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20281, 3 December 1935, Page 14

ENGLISH CHARGE

“RACE OF MEDICINE DRINKERS.” The fear that England seemed to be in danger of becoming a nation of confirmed medicine drinkers was expressed by Sir Kingsley Wood, Minister of Health, speaking at a meeting of the London Insurance Committee at County Hall, Westminster, recently, says the “Daily Telegraph.” “I doubt, myself, that this is to the good,” he said. “In England many patients have come to regard a visit to the doctor as synonymous with the receipt of medicine. “Scotland has apparently no such love of medicine. As a result, the cost in England per head of insured population is 58 per cent, more than the cost in Scotland. “There seem to be no known facts connected with the incidence of disease in the two countries to account for this wide difference. I do not think anyone would suggest that the standard of treatment of the Scottish practitioner is lower than his English colleague, or that his results are less satisfying. “I would like to see people drinking more milk and less medicine. A considerable portion of the outlay in drugs could be eliminated without detriment, and with much advantage to the proper treatment of the people.” Sir Kingsley, who is the senior exchairman of the committee, referred to the growth of National Health Insurance. He thought it gratifying that it was immune from any major criticism, and was making a real contribution to the improvement of public health. There were, however, certain gaps to be filled.

There were to-day 18,500,000 insured people, and the benefits they had received since the scheme was inaugurated totalled over £490,000,000.