§ Captain KNIGHTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why persons taking the medical benefit under the National Insurance Act through the medical officer of an approved institution should be placed in a different position from those taking such benefits through an ordinary panel doctor; and why these institutions and their members should have to fill up forms issued by health committees, though such forms are not required from those taking medical benefit through an ordinary panel doctor?
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§ Mr. MASTERMANBoth doctors on the panel and approved institutions are required to send to the insurance committee notices of acceptance of insured persons. The arrangement by which, at the commencement of medical benefit, insured persons desiring treatment from a doctor on the panel could obtain such treatment by presenting their medical tickets, would not be appropriate to insured persons entitled to receive medical attendance and treatment through an approved institution, in respect of whom definite evidence is necessary that they are, or desire to become, members of the institution.
§ Captain KNIGHTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why a patient, being a member of an approved institution, cannot obtain a second supply of medicine without having a further interview with the medical officer and obtaining a second prescription?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe requirement referred to in the hon. Member's question would be imposed by the rules of the institution to which the insured person belongs. It has not been imposed by any Regulation of the Commissioners. The institutions which the hon. Member has in mind may, however, reasonably consider that it is in the best interests of the patient that the decision as to repeating a medicine should rest with the medical attendant of the patient rather than with the patient himself, and that a prescription should not be repeated without a written statement to that effect by the medical attendant.
§ Mr. BUTCHERasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the difficulties experienced by the friendly societies in supplying medical benefit out of their own funds to those of their members who are over sixty-five, and who are not insured under the National Insurance Act, he will state what steps the Government are prepared to take in order to enable the friendly societies to provide medical benefits for the members above referred to?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI have nothing to add to the answers I have already given to similar questions. I know no reason why the fact that a doctor is receiving higher remuneration than hitherto in respect of insured persons should prevent him continuing to treat the small and diminishing number of his own aged and 1405W infirm patients who are not insured on the same or approximately the same terms as before.
§ Mr. NEEDHAMasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether a doctor who is working under the National Insurance Act, in addition to giving a prescription and advice, can also sell medicine to the insured person to be paid for by the insured person?
§ Mr. MASTERMANExcept in the special circumstances where a doctor is allowed to dispense under the Act in accordance with paragraph 30 of the Medical Benefit Regulations no payment could be made to him out of the Insurance Funds for any drugs supplied by him to isnured persons, who are entitled to obtain them free from any chemist on the panel. I do not think it would be proper for such an arrangement to be made as is described in the question.