PAVING THE WAY

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20690, 28 December 1938, Page 6

PAVING THE WAY

SOCIAL SECURITY PREPARATORY WORK MEETING WITH DOCTORS PANEL SYSTEM UNLIKELY (By Telegraph—press Association) WELLINGTON, Wednesday In a statement issued to-day the Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Fraser, says it is not possible at present to indicate the date on which any of the several benefits under Part 3 of the Social Security Act are to begin to operate. Every effort is being made to expedite the preliminary work and as soon as it is possible to give an indication of the dates that will be done. It is pointed out that the amount of preparation to be undertaken was recognised when the Act was being drafted. Hence the special provision in Section 79 that the several classes of benefits were to come into operation at April 1, 1939, or at such later date as may be determined in that behalf by the Minister, being the earliest possible date on which arrangement for their effective administration can be brought into operation. The arrangements cover a variety of preliminary procedures that may he divided into two broad classes, firstly, the purely preparatory work that is being now put in hand and, secondly, inaugural work, i.c., work immediately preceding the commencement of the benefits. Consultative Committees The preparatory work will include the setting up of advisory or consultative committees as contemplated under the Act. Attention will first be given to central committees as distinct from district or local committees. Some of these committees will consist of professional personnel and importance must be_ attached to their being adequately representative of the interests concerned in the provision of services. The maximum consultation with the doctors and others concerned in the provision of services is desired from the outset and every possible endeavour will be made to meet the reasonable wishes and aspiration of the various professions.

With regard to doctors in particular he was glad to say there would be an early resumption of discussions with representatives of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association. Discussion of Remuneration In response to a recent invitation from him as Minister of Health the chairman and members of the Association’s national health insurance committee had signified their willingness to confer and a meeting is proposed towards the end of January. At this initial meeting special consideration is to be given to various general systems of remuneration. It is felt that with the adoption of some system of “ payment for service” greater freedom of choice for the public and greater professional freedom for doctors would be achieved than under the panel or capitation system. Following the setting up of advisory committees negotiations will have to be carried out to determine the general form and actual terms of arrangements with doctors, chemists, hospitals, midwives and others and the basis of rates of remuneration for service and the prices for drugs and medicaments. Surveying Isolated Areas Another important phase of the preparatory work will be a survey of conditions in isolated areas. These will probably vary a great deal in their form according to local circumstances. The position of medical associations has to be gone into carefully. In certain areas it may be advisable to make such onganisations the agency for providing certain services and apart from this possibility lull regard lias to be paid to the various commitments and contracts of the existing associations in the light of arrangements for the inauguration of benefits under the Act. Whatever special arrangements are found necessary in particular cases it is desirable that they be completed in order that these areas shall receive the benefits of the Act at the same time as the rest of the Dominion.

The determination of the terms and conditions under which beneficiaries may obtain benefits is another task for the preparatory period. It will, of course, be bound up with the general arrangements with the doctors and others and in itself- should not present serious problems. Variety of Arrangements The inaugural period will include formal notification of the conditions (governing the various benefits and the terms of general contracts for doctors and others rendering service, the receipt of applications from doctors, chemists, midwives and others for inclusion in the list of those renderingservice, the publication of lists where necessary and the supply of forms to doctors and others rendering service. In addition there will be a considerable volume of work in the inaugural period for completing preparatory arrangements in special areas where ordinary arrangements are not practicable. From the foregoing it will be generally appreciated that the recruitment and training of staff and the general organisation of administrative work, including the provision of otfice accommodation in various centres, is another important phase of llie preparatory and inaugural work.