Evening star., 1938-07-18
Dr.. Abel Sharply Discounts
Centrally Controlled
Medical PIan.'
MAKES STAND KNOWN
IN TALK TO CONFERENCE
Remarks Follow Reading of the
Message From President
Urging Coordination.
BY HAROLD B. ROGERS.

Inc American Medical ASSOCia ton
today virtually crossed swords with
the Roosevelt administration over the
issue Of 'co-ordinated national pro-
gram for action" for the health of
the American people.
DR.. Irwin Abel, A. NJ A., president,
In an address to the National Health
Conference at the Mayflower Hotel
this afternoon. sharply discounted any
centrally controlled medical service
plan to be proposed for all parts of
the country.
His remarks followed personal
message from President Roosevelt to
the conference earlier in the day in
which the President. while praising
the progress Of medical science, said:
But when We see what We know how
to do. yet have not done, it is clear
that there is need for a co-ordinated
national program of action"
The A. M. A. head contended that
the doctors themselves were making
survey of medical needs of the
country, but that these needs varied
"iociy uCCOTUlHB 10 LOCALITY,
Seems Like Direct Attack.
He suggested the conference should
develop a plan under medical con-
troll, which was entirely different
from the proposal of President Roose-
welt, who told the conference that
we can advance more surely If we
have before US q comprehensive, long.
range program, providing for the most
enicient cooperation of Federal, State
and local governments, voluntary
agencies, professional groups, mediums
Of public information and individual
citizens"
In what seemed to be almost 4 direct
attack on the Presidents general sug-
gestion, DR.. Abell charged:
Those people who think that they
can devise q centrally controlled medi-
cal service plan which can be fitted
to the varying conditions of the States,
counties and cities of this country are
discussing theories which no practical
health commissioner could possibly
approve"
EmphAsizng the traditional position
Of the American Medical Associat ton
on the importance Of sustaining the
quality Of medical care funda-
mental to good medical service for
all the people, DR.. Abell declared
fiatly:
There can be no acceptance by the
medical profession Of any system Of
medical care which is based on the
idea that the well-to-do shall receive
quality OF medical care, while the
farmers. the laborers and the white
collar workers are to be placated with
wider distribution OF an inferior
medical service"
Picture Seen Unfavorable.
DR.. Abell's stout championship of
the medical profession followed pres
entation this morning by severa,
speakers Of an unfavorable picture Of
the health Of the country, with sug-
gestions that the conference should do
something very definite.
Admitting that lag exists be-
tween the development of medical
knowledge and its application to all
who may require it," the A. M. A.
president declared that people OF the
United States are receiving today the
best medical care and have on the
whole the best organized and the
most effective health department of
any country on the globe"
1T Is easy to say" cOntended DR..
Abel. that there are many thousands
or millions living in economic condi-
tions where health and happiness are
impossible In democracy as vast as
ours
But I would like for you to realize
that this problem varies not only
from State to State; it varies 50 much
in the different counties or town.
ships in each State that most formulas
imposed on our people as whole
would do a great deal more harm than
good"
Changes Must BE Consistent.
Emphasizing the A. M. AS insist
ence on leadership Of the medical
profession in any new program, DR..
Abel declared: The medical profess
sion and the allied health agencies
throughout the country are exerting
every effort to determine the need
and the demand for medical care.
Changes to meet health needs must
be consistent with local conditions
and requirements and must be judged
by the effect which such changes will
(See HEALTH. Page A-6.)