14. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many European and non-European doctors, respectively, are in the medical service of the Government in the British Colonies of West Africa?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Harcourt)The number (including those employed in the British Protectorates) are respectively 206 and 8.
15. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked whether any doctors and, if so, how many in the service of the Government in the British Colonies of West Africa are permitted to engage in an outside practice; and whether they are further enabled to compete with non-European doctors by using Government drugs, which are obtained at a lower price than they can be purchased in the open market?
§ Mr. HARCOURTThe number of Government medical officers in the British West African Dependencies who art-allowed private practice is 189 (including eight non-Europeans). In Sierra Leone, the Gold Coast and Southern Nigeria they are allowed to use in their private practice drugs from the Government stores, on payment. The rates charged are calculated at an amount varying from 25 to 35 per cent, over cost price, and in the opinion of the local administration, with whom I have recently been in correspondence on this subject, there is no reason to suppose that this system gives the Government officers any advantage over private practitioners.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTWill the right lion. Gentleman consider the advisability of allowing native doctors with private practice to obtain Government stores on the same terms?
§ Mr. HARCOURTI think native doctors who are in Government service will receive them.
§ Mr. HARCOURTI will consider that point.
16. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked whether natives in the employ of the British Government in West Africa are compelled to accept the services of a European medical attendant, or whether they are allowed to avail themselves of the services of fully-qualified non-European doctors?
§ Mr. HARCOURTNatives in the employ of the British Government in West Africa receive gratuitous attendance from Government medical officers. The allocation of this duty to individual medical officers is a matter of local administration. I have no information as to the extent to which the patient is allowed to exercise a choice of medical officer, where opportunities for such choice exist.
§ Mr. HARCOURTYes.
17. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked how many hospitals in British West African Colonies have and how many have not attached to them qualified medical attendants other than European?
§ Mr. HARCOURTI regret that I am unable to furnish the information asked for by my hon. Friend. The duties and stations of medical officers in West Africa vary continually, and are determined by the local administration in accordance with local exigencies.