Evening star., 1947-12-22
Action 10 Bring
Doctors 10 Rural
Virginia Urged
Medical Scholarship
Increases Proposed
By Legislative Council
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press
RICHMOND, Va, Dec %. - The
Virginia Advisory Legislative Coun-
Gil, in a unanimous report dealing
with the States needs for medical
care, today recommended broad
ened scholarship program which it
believes will bring more doctors,
nurses and dentists into the rural
areas of the State.
The council also made a number
of other recommendations. 1t
urged adoption of series of
amendments to provide greater
financial assistance to the Univer-
sity of Virginia hospital and the
medical college of Virginia; sug-
gested new attempt to develop dis
trict homes for the chronically i'll
and turned down a proposal that
the State put up some matching
money for the construction of local
general hospitals.
Adequate facilities were found to
be available for education of med
ical and nursing students. But the
council described facilities at the
Medical College of Virginia as "in-
adequate" and said it found seri-
Gus shortage of doctors and dentists
In rural areas and all medical in
stitutions are short on nurses.
Larger Scholarship Asked.
In 1912 the General Assembly
established rural medical scholar
ships under an act providing 10
awards of $3.50 per year at each Of
the medical schools. Recipients are
obligated to practice in rural Vir-
ginia. The council noted that stu
dents failed to take advantage of
the program to the fullest extent
but this was blamed largely on war
conditions
Today's report called the amount
OF each scholarship inadequate un-
der present-day high costs" and
recommended that each award be
increased to $1,000 a year
The council reported that new
hospitals proposed in many Vir-
ginia localities would be helpful in
keeping greater number of med
ical school graduates in Virginia
and said another step toward in
creasing rural practitioners would
be re-examination of the curricula
Of Virginia medical schools, to see
If they are meeting their RESPONSE
bility in this field.
Worst Shortage in Dentistry.
The worst shortage was found In
dentistry. Fifteen Virginia counties
have no dentists, a survey showed,
and local public health services are
generally handicapped for lack of
dentists. Last year 300 applications
were accepted from 1000 prospective
students and 48 of these were ad-
mitted in the freshman class.
The only dental school in this
region is at the Medical College of
Virginia and the legislative coun-
sci said new building is badly
needed"
An acute shortage Of nurses which
developed during the war still
exists" the council found, and the
report said little improvement in
the situation Is expected for the
next three years.
1t was agreed that the States 80
professional nursing schools and five
schools for practical nursing prob
ably is sufficient but, to speed the
nursing program, it was recon-
mended that 500 scholarships be
made available for each year Of a
three-year course.
Urges Bond Authorization.
The council noted that new hos
pital construction is planned in
many areas of Virginia under terms
of the Hill-Burton Act of Congress.
This makes available substantial
sums to be used on a matching
basis for construction of general
hospitals, tuberculosis hospitals,
mental hospitals and other institu-
tions.
It has been reported that several
communities seek legislation under
which the State would contribute
one-third of the money necessary
for local hospital construction; the
localities would put up one-third
and the Federal Government one
third under the plan.
The councils report said that such
q one third share would amount to
$2,32O 900. and said the council "is
unable to perceive how the State at
this time can provide for an outlay
of such sum-"
If localities lack resources for put
ting up their full share under the
Hill-Burton Act, they should be au-
thorized to issue bonds, the council
declared.
Funds for ChronicalIy Sick.
Other recommendations contained
In the report included:
A considerable increase" in the
State appropriation for stating To-
cal departments of public health"
The recognition of the import
ance Of supply Of patients to stu
dents Of medical schools and the
suggestion that part of the ex-
pense Of maintaining INDECENT pa
tients used for study should right
fully be borne by the State.
One Of nine major recommended
eiOlio SO1lSCA 44lllS lAlPlOFCuiCllI VI
care for the chronically ill and aged
proposed that the State appropriate
100000 as matching fund which
localities could call on for mainte-
nance and operation Of District
homes on a basis of 625 per cent
from the State and 37.5 per cent
from the locality.
1t also was proposed that so beds
be made available at the Medical
College of Virginia and at the Uni
versity of Virginia for the care and
treatment of cancer cases and
chronic bed cases needing medical
attention.
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