Evening star., 1939-06-25
Compulsory Health
Insurance Praised
By British Leader
Sir Arthur MekoIty
Coils Il First Line
Of Defense

Of Defense
England's compulsory health in
surance was praised yesterday by Sir
Arthur 8. MacNalty, chief medical
ofncer Of the British Ministry of
Health, as the FIRST line OF defense"
for protection Of the health of its
working people.
The distinguished doctor, who has
been made an honorary physician to
King George, outlined his views at q
press conference in the ofIice Of
Surg. Gen. Thomas Parran of
the United States Public Health
Service, with whom he conferred on
public health problems of the two
countries.
Sir Arthur explained that CO.
operating in the British compulsory
health insurance system were 10000
private medical practitioner" most
OF whom, he said, also had other
patients as well.
The system, he said, is supported
by payments by the workers them
selves, by their employers, and by O
subsidy from the government. Every
manual worker between the ages of
10 and IS must take the insurance.
he said. providing their income does
not exceed $50 pounds. which is
about $3.50. Certain voluntary"
memberships. he explained, are open
10 certain other workers, but there
Is a ceiling" to the plan, whereby
persons OF a higher income level
cannot join.
The compulsory insurance, under
an act Of 1911, Sir Arthur emnha-
sized, makes possible for the Eng
ilsh worker ready access to medi-
cal advice, not only in cases of
actual III health, but for those in
need OF guidance" and prevention
OF sickness. Compulsory health in
surance does not include hospitah-
zation. which can be purchased
through special arrangement. SINH
lar to group disqualification in this
country.
Sir Arthur referred to the growth
OF what he called state medicine"
in England. with participation by
the medical profession. But he was
careful to pay tribute to the inde-
pendence OF the private medical
practitioner. ut is no part of Brit
ish health policy" he emphasized.
TO destroy the mutual confidence
and freedom of individual action
which exists between doctor and
patient"
The private medical practitioner
takes vital and active part in pub
tic health service" he added.
Sir Arthur. with gracious and de-
noerate manner of the British scien-
tist. devoted much of his interview
70 discussion Of the subject of can
Ger control in England. This was
appropriately brought up as the
British Official participated in dis
cussions on cancer yesterday after
noon In sessions of the National Ad-
visory Cancer Council. He was pres
ent at the National Cancer Institute
when the cornerstone Of that build
ing was laid.
$1,000 Cancer Fatalities.
Reporting that cancer ranks hiph
IN England and Wales as a cause
Of death, resulting in nearly 81 900
fatalities in 1887, he pointed to prog
ress made in modern diagnostic
methods, and in treatment by sur
gerry, deep x-ray therapy and ra-
dium.
"A large proportion of cancer in
accessible sites Of the body is cur
able" he said, 'if reached early
enough" But because the knowl-
edge of durability and amelioration
OF cancer is not widely spread. the
British empire educational cam
paign is spreading information on
the subject.
The work of experimental physi-
cists in radio-activity, he declared.
of1ered hope" that there may be
cures for deep-seated cancer, from
rays OF greater penetration"
The Ministry of Health, he said,
supervises use of most of the radium
OF the country in cancer treatment
at Is selected hospital centers. A
few private institutions and doctors
have radium also, he said.
Going to New York Today.
The Ministry of Health is making
plans, he explained, for treatment
OF air-raid casualties in case of war,
and has arranged for 10000 addi-
tional hospital beds should war
break out.
In his travels in Canada, where
ne addressed medical gatherings, and
IN this country, Sir Arthur said he
found evidence that the recent visit
OF King George and Queen Eliza.
beth without question had Strength
ened the growing ties of friendship
between the English speaking peo-
pies"
Today Sir Arthur plans to 70 to
New York. He will visit friends at
Yale University Monday, attend the
New York Worlds Fair Tuesday
when he will visit the British
Pavilion, and plans to sail Wednes-
day for England.
Tunisia is trying to improve its
agriculture.