LODGE SYSTEM

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21416, 9 May 1941, Page 6

LODGE SYSTEM

MEDICAL SERVICE ADVICE TO CQNTUDI DELAY WITH STATE SCHEME (By Teleg-rapn.—Press Assorl.uon) AUCKLAND, Thursday After consideration of the Government’s proposal, announced on April 23, to refund to lodges medical dues of financial members who had been unable to secure the services of doctors under the State medical benefits scheme, the board of the Auckland Friendly Societies Medical Institute has advised lodge members to continue the present arrangements with doctors and to contribute their medical dues until further notice.

Mr W. H. McCombie, secretary of the Institute, said today that the Government had not made adequate provision for medical services, and the board had no alternative but to advise its members to continue with the lodge system. “There see.ns little or no prospect of a oemprehensive State medical benefits scheme in the near future,” he said. "The medical men have made it clear that they will not get into hne with the Government scheme, and that’s that.” CHEMISTS RESPOND PHARMACY BENEFITS (By Telegraph.—Preaa Ai» Delation) WELLINGTON, Thursday The response by the chemists to the scheme of social security pharmaceutical benefits since they were first made available on May 5 was outlined by the Minister of Health, the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer, in an interview tonight. He said it appeared from preliminary returns that the vast majority of chemists in the Dominion were operating tiie benefits, and prepared to accept contracts under the scheme. It was expected that nearly the whole of the chemists would accept within the next week. Replying to an inquiry whether the Government intended to exclude all proprietary drugs permanently, the Minister stated that investigations were already being made into certain proprietary lines, and, where these had no British pharmacopoeia equivalent, it was likely they would be added to the free list. The public, however, should know that some proprietary lines were simply expensive forms of a simple combination of drugs which a doctor might prescribe and a patient secure free.