MAJORITY REPORT.
188
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tion of these grants is given in paragraphs 163 to 169 of
Appendix I, Section C.
PoiNTs FROM THE EVIDENCE.
423. We may now conveniently give some extracts from the
evidence submitted to us on these matters.
424. Dr. Smith Whitaker, in reply to a suggestion that the
figure should be based very largely on the amount of the
remuneration the doctor received in pre-war days, with a reason-
able loading for the rise in the cost of living, remarked, ‘‘ Is the
question not really this, what does the general practitioner, as a
class, consider the value of his time and skill? Our service has
to compete with other sources of income that are open to him,
and in the result it is a kind of balance of the inducements to
different doctors throughout the country.” (Q. 1447.) He added,
that it was difficult to say whether effective comparisons could
be made with other professions in this matter. (Q. 1448.)
425. Mr. Alban Gordon, in referring to the financing of the
extensions of medical benefit, refers to ‘* the present method of
remuneration of panel practitioners, which is not only, in
ny opinion, generous in itself but is unduly generous in the
case of the urban practitioner possessing a large panel *’
(App. XIII, 56). In answer to Q. 7834, he states, ‘‘ 1 think
the present system . . . is bound to be either unjust to
those who have too little work or unduly generous to those who
have a great deal.”
426. The British Medical Association state that they are
" convinced that the capitation fee is still too low . . >
and that ‘“ the extra amount allowed for rural conditions requires
feconsideration.”” (App. XILVII, 59.) We may refer also to
App. XL VIII, 60-62, where the views of the Medical Practi-
tioners’ [nich are ‘set forth.
CONSIDERATIONS AS TO FUTURE NEGOTIATIONS.
427. The immediate problem arising from the above con-
Siderations and from the course of the evidence falls into two
Parts : (1) Assuming the same services are given, has any change
10 the economic or other circumstances arisen since 1923 to justify
& variation of the capitation fee? (2) If extended services are
Sven, what is the fair reward for them ?
428. We do not think that it falls within our province to
Make a recommendation under ‘either head. This is a subject
Which clearly must be discussed between the Minister and the
Medical Profession in settling the terms of service to take effect
at January next. The point to which we direct attention is
the frequency of the review of the rate of remuneration. On this
~
4.709
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