Evening star., 1962-07-08

with the provincial government
Mr.. Blanchard is o stoff writer for
the Detroit News.
over compulsory government
health insurance.
When the question is brought
up here in Regina. capital of
the first Socialist province. or
state, in North America. there
Is a quiet chuckle, and a remark
similar to this one from a young
government officer in the newly
constituted Saskatchewan med
icare office:
What's being proposed in
the United States is really a
misuse of the word medicare
as it applies here" he said.
Actually the United States is
far behind us in the matter of
government health insurance
or maybe far ahead of us. de-
pending on ones political view
point"
The provisions contained in
the King Anderson medicare
bill now before the United
States Senate have long been
in effect here in one form or
another. And there has been no
great stir about them within
the medical profession here.
Difference Stressed
Basically, the United States
medicare plan in an old-age
disqualification program paid
for partially by the patients
themselves through increases
in the social security tax on
wages. 1t provides limited hos
pital service (up to 80 days in
the hospital for each illness)
and does not include doctors
bills.
More than this was provided
to all Saskatchewans as far
back as l947 when the provin-
cial disqualification plan was
put into effect. In fact, since
1857 almost all Canadians are
under provincial disqualification
plans much more far-reaching
in benefits than the Kennedy
sponsored bill would provide.
Under the provincial hospi-
talization insurance here. indi-
viduals pay a premium of $24
a year, with a maximum OF S48
set for families. For this the
patient, regardless Of age. re-
ceives unlimited hospital care,
including all drugs and services
needed during his stay.
How long the patient is able
to stay in the hospital is left
solely to the judgment OF his
doctor, with the government
footing the bill.
Last week as the medical
care act which is causing the
present doctors strike was put
into effect. the government also
extended its old disqualification
program to include all dag
nostic services (X-rays, labora-
tory work, etc. provided on an
out-patient basis.
Wide Services
For persons incapable of pay
ing the minimum hospitaliza-
ton premiums required by the
government. public welfare
pays the hospital bills
Moreover, for persons 70
years Of age who receive old
age assistance the government
has another plan in effect Tor
several years, under which the
Saskatchewan Department OF
Public Health Medical Division
provides so per cent Of the
cost of drugs, all basic medical
and surgical treatment, den
lures, hearing aids, eye glasses,
wheel chairs and prosthetics
appliances.
Saskatchewan also has two
major cancer clinics, one here
in Regina, the other in Sask&
toon which are operated by the
government and which offer
complete diagnostic treatment
service to cancer victims free
of charge. A doctor who sus-
poets his patient has cancer
sends him to the clinic where
a staff Of government physi-
clans is supplemented by top
specialists who work on a per
diem basis.
If the diagnosis happily
proves to be incorrect the pa
tient is charged a fee Of $40
for the examination. If it turns
out he has cancer. all of his
expenses for treatment Of the
disease are picked up by the
government.
All of these programs have
been instituted by the provin-
cial government without q doc
tors strike such as the one
afflicting Saskatchewan now.
$4,000 Involved
The controversial Saskatch-
wan medical care act passed
last November is an attempt by
the government to provide
complete medical insurance for
all of the provinces 100000
citizens.
The medicare act, simply de-
fined, will pay the doctor bill.
1t has been drawn up in such
a way to dovetail into the other
government health programs