Thorny Problem

Medical Opposition: Rabaui Handies A Thorny Problem

From a Rabaul Correspondent A threatening contretemps among Rabaul’s medical profession, bof private and administrative, w a avoided in April by admirable r strain! on the part of Town Advisoi councillors.

THE situation arose when private practitioner sough reported 1 y on behalf of other GP in the town, for the sole right t treat non-native patients unless i the doctors’ opinion they require specialist attention from Administri tion doctors.

As the situation stood, and sti stands, non-native patients—Eun peans, Asians and Euronesians were free to choose whether th« should be treated by Administrate medical officers (among whom a some highly qualified specialists ! fields not covered by private pra tice) or by one of the town’s fo private practitioners.

Framed in the form of a questioi “Is it Government’s policy to j into opposition against private ente prise?” it is understood a priva practitioner took the matter to Ca berra and also to the Administrat in Port Moresby. Landed with hot potato he apparently did n

P-NG Director of Health, Dr. R. Scragg.

w how to handle, the Health Di or, Dr. R. Scragg, passed it g to the District Commissioner, r Britain, Mr. John Foldi. ommissioner Foldi’s move was to lest advice from the Town Ad ry Council on the feeling of the Lie towards the question, he council, whose members are Anted, not elected, would scarcely m appropriate body to approach a cross section of public opinion, on this occasion they were made r aware of the public’s feelings, petition signed by 403 persons forwarded to the council and read at the meeting. It asked he most direct terms that medi services should be allowed to ain as they were, that the privi of** consulting Administration ialists was appreciated and that signees wished to continue doing ther letters received and read council voiced the same senti ts if not more strongly. One r signed by two private titioners stated that they had [uarrel with the prevailing medical ition and they disassociated them ;s from any connection with r doctors who did. ware of the intense interest in question, town councillors, for first time in many months, at ed the meeting in full strength, ent and flanking the lone woman iber, Mrs. Pat Hopper, were ly appointed councillors F. Wicks K. Gosper. pening the matter from the r, Mr. Les Corbett stated that greed with a newspaper’s opinion ed that week, that councillors ; not truly in a position to repre public opinion. However, an yer was required to the District

Commissioner and this answer should be both clearcut and concise without putting the matter to public debate.

Councillor John Chipper immedi ately endorsed the chairman’s sug gestion, moving that the question be not debated and that medical services to all European, Asian and Euro esian members of the public remain unaltered.

His motion was approved without comment.

Claps and sighs of relief from observers at the back of the hall greeted the decision and it was obvi ous that public opinion had been satisfied.

Those who had hoped for the spectacle of a juicy medical debate were disappointed—but the majority present hailed the councillors’ good sense and restraint in dealing so delicately with a thorny subject.

It now only remains for the coun cil’s recommendation to be passed on to Moresby. It is then up to Ad ministration to either accept or reject the council’s findings.

Leader of the Chinese Community in Honiara for a number of years, Mr. Chan Chee, has retired after 33 years in the Solomons. He will return to his family in Hongkong.

Britain District Commissioner, Mr.

J. R. Foldi.