MEDICAL SERVICES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 20, 24 January 1946, Page 4

MEDICAL SERVICES

BEING REINFORCED IN NEW ZEALAND More than a page of the recent. Government Gazette is occupied with the small advertisements of graduates who are entitled to be registered as medical practitioners. This is only a small proportion of the total, which this year should reach at least 80. In addition, the country’s medical services are being heavily reinforced by the return of practitioners who gave service overseas, even though some have obtained permanent appointments abroad and many others are undertaking post - graduate courses .

Taking all factors into account, it is expected that this year New Zealand will receive the benefit of the services of an additional 100 medical practitioners, apart from returned servicemen.

New Zealand, compared with other countries, is well provided with doctors, though experience of difficulties in getting prompt attention from over-worked doctors would suggest the contrary. The generally accepted view is that a country is particularly well served in this way if there is one doctor to every 1000 of the population. The medical registrations in 1938-39 totalled 1559, and to-day there are 1928, not including the coming additions, which will bring the total to over 2000, so that instead of one doctor to 1200 or 1500 of population, which is advocated as the safe minimum, New Zealand is shortly going to enjoy the services of a doctor to every 800 of its people.