The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-09-20
ATTEMPT TO BLOCK
HOSPITAL PRIVILEGES


HOSPITAL PRIVILEGES
/ Opposition to these groups and t
the doctors who practice with then
!, has become the focal point of profes
sional opposition in Saskatchewan
Many of the community clinic doc
tors have been unable to obtain hos
pital privileges. Those of you wht
have had some association with tn.
group health movement in the United
States may recognize some sinilari
ties here. There is at the present time
Royal Commission (Which is gen
orally our equivalent to an investi-
eating committee or official inquiry
considering the complaints of doc
tors who have been denied hospital
privileges or whose privileges have
been unduly delayed. Pending the
outcome of this inquiry, think it
would be impolitic for me to attempt
to comment further on this situation.
For the future, I am convinced the
Saskatchewan plan is firmly estab-
ished. 1t should be recognized that
it is basically an insurance plan, and
does not attempt to solve all the
problems in the provision of medical
services. 1t is quite different, for ex-
ample, from the National Health
Services in Great Britain which ac-
tually undertakes to organize health
services and ito provide the services
to the public.
The Saskatchewan plan attempts
to reallocate the costs of curative
medical care through prepayment
and tax revenues. 1t makes no at
tempt to reorganize the provision
of services or to dictate their dis
tribution. Within this framework,
/ believe it is the best approach
which has yet been tried in North
America. might add that there is
no present evidence that even a
change of government would bring
about any radical change in the
Medical Care Insurance Plan in
the province.
With respect ito Canada as whole,
public interest in medical care is
high. 1t seems clear that developments
in the provinces will follow two di-
vergent paths, with Saskatchewan
representing one approach and AL
berta and Ontario the other. In con-
trast to the universal nature of the
plan in Saskatchewan, Alberta and
Ontario have taken what may best
be described as the medical social
aid'' approach. In doing so they have
won the guarded blessing of organ
PLAN LESS
COMPREHENSIVE
The Alberta plan leaves the insur-
ng of the patient in the hands CT
he doctor-sponsored plans and pri-
rate insurance companies. Tt under
axes only to substitute premiums for
ow income groups who are not al
eady provided for under welfare pro-
sran1s. At the same time certain regu-
atoms are set us with respect to the
ype of coverage to be offered and
he maximum premiums which may
e charged. Participation is entirely
oluntary, even for low income
roups. The benefits which accrue
D that portion of the population
hitch does not qualify for the SUBJ
dy are few. First, they are g.uaran- |
ED that coverage will be available
, them regardless of age or physical J
ondition. Second, there is some nomi- q
al protection on the maximum v
mount which they must pay in pre- n
iums.
Without taking the time to attempt t
ny deep analysis of the Alberta t
edical social aid plan, / would like t.
mention one or two problems which "
em to me to be serious disadvant- O
res. G.
First. Alberta premiums are much
CHER than Saskatchewan - the
aximum for family of three or
ore in Alberta is $3.50 per year.
,cond, the subsidy is relatively low,
rying from SO to $72 per year; this
ayes substantial amount to bel