Evening star., 1944-07-10
Senate Group Hears
Officials on Postwar
National Health Plan!
Rx HAROLD b. ROGERS.

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and manpower officials of the Gov
ernment today began to build a
factual background for the Senate
subcommittee on wartime health
and education to shape recon-
mendations for a postwar national
health program.
Health insurance under super
vision of the medical profession,
health clinics provided by the Fed
eral Government and a program OF
intensive physical education of
children were recommended by Vice
Admiral Ross T. McIntire, surgeon
general of the Navy, who is Presi-
dent Roosevelt's personal physician.
He proposed also that each young
man during his formative years
should spend at least one year in
some Federal agency, like the Army,
Navy, park service or forest service.
The admiral emphasized, however,
this would not be regimentation.
A new health insurance plan now
being formulated by the District of
Columbia Medical Society was
pointed to by Admiral McIntire as
"a good one
I'VE must come to some sort OF
prepaid medical care said the wit
ness, but I have the impression
that the medical profession must
operate it
Nations Health Criticized.
A dark picture of the Nations
health was painted by selective
service, Army and Navy doctors,
who used the large percentage of re-
jections to point the need for a
better program to strengthen the
Nations health.
Chairman Pepper of the commit
tee, outlining the objective of the
three days Of hearings already
scheduled. said that among oppor-
tunities under consideration were
the construction of hospitals, medi-
cal centers and health centers in
regions which do not have them
now, He pointed to the possibility
of replacement of obsolete and old
fashioned types of construction in
other areas.
Looking for other facilities to in
crease national health, the Senator
drew from both Admiral McIntire
and Maj. Gen George F. Lull,
deputy surgeon general of the Army,
that after the war there would be a
substantial amount of equipment
which could be used for the benefit
of civilians. The Veterans Admin
istration, however, would have first
call on such facilities.
Stressing the bad picture of the
Nations health. Maj, Gen. Lewis B.
Hershey, selective service director,
estimated that more than 5000 900
selectees would have been rejected
If all had been examined. He pointed
to a huge chart showing that of
22,2O0.0O0 registrants under selec-
tive service, only 100000 are now
in the armed services. Rejected for
physical or mental defects, he listed
at more 100000 and he estimated
that of 100000 deferred for agri-
culture and nonagriculture reasons.
there would be found about another
100000 rejects.
Physical Fitness Year Urged.
Declaring the rejectee in many
cases was the victim of our modern
civilization" Col Leonard G.. Rown-
tree, selective service medical serv-
ice chief. proposed physical fit
ness" year, beginning next Septem-
ber
The immediate need" he de-
clared. is the formation of func-
tional Joint committee of the Amer
team Medical Association and the
National Council on Physical Fit
ness, with strong and equal repre-
sentation of both organizations. This
will furnish a broad-based, compe-
tent professional leadership for a
movement that will be largely rem
edial in character, but which from
the beginning will be preventive
also, and more so as the program
evolves. The program should i'm
mediatelv seek presidential and con-
gressional support to help in the
improvement of physical fitness of
the civilian population"
Paul V. McNutt, chairman of the
War Manpower Commission and
Federal Security Administrator who
is in charge of the Public Health
Service, reviewed the work of his
agencies and outlined certain prob
lens which required advance plan
ming on postwar health needs.
AS soon as men and materials are
available, he recommended that
there should be construction on
health facilities, hospitals, clinics.
sanitary works and water systems,
which have been DELAYED because of
the war The Public Health Service
should be provided with funds for
planning in order that they may
make available to States and locali-
ties the best possible technical advice
in making these plans.