Læknablaðið - 01.06.1961, Page 66

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LÆKNABLAÐIÐ
Frá
Alþj óða-læknaf élaginu
„No Consultation Day“
in Japan.
On February 19, 1961 the Ja-
pan Medical Association and the
Japan Dcntal Association spon-
sored a „No Consultation Day“
in order to direct altention of
the population to the fact that
in spite of a Four Point Plan
submitted hy the Japan Medical
Association to tlie Ministry of
Welfare, the Ministry continued
to ignore the needs and recom-
mendations of tlie doctors of
Japan.
Under the Japan liealtli in-
surance plan the medical fee is
recognized to he the lowes in
the world. For example a sur-
geon receives $9.00 (USA) for
a cataract operation. Hence the
Japan Medical Association had
requested that the Welfare Mi-
nistry:
Release medical care under
healtli insurance restric-
tions
íncrease the medical fee at
least 30%
Decrease the annoying busi-
ness routines associated
with healtli insurance
Simplify the medical fee syst-
em hy abolishing the cur-
renl dual system and pro-
viding for differential fees
according to area.
The recent strike of liospital
employees had forced the Wel-
fare Ministry to recommend diet
approval of an average increase
of 14% for hospitals and 6%
for clinics. This irrational dis-
crimination hetween hospitals
and clinics; failure of the lead-
ers of the Liberal Democratic
Party to reacli an agreement
with the medical and dental
association representatives in
spite of tlie fact that the special
committee on medical care of
the Liberal Party liad endorsed
the JMA’s Four Point Plan and
criticism of the Japan Medical
Association hy tlie Ministry of
Welfare, inspired the „No Con-
sultation Day“ demonstration.
Doctors and dentists declined to
accept consulations but pro-
vided emergency care for tliose
who required it and had an ade-
quate medical staff at hospitals
and clinics. The doctors distri-
huted pamphlets and held pub-
lic relations meeting and press
conferences on that day in order
to inform the population as to
the actual status of the medical
care system.
The Japan Medical Associa-
tion further announced a sec-
M