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Thursday, July 27, 1972
PARENTS TO PAY LESS FOR SCHOOL MEDICAL SCHEME
With effect from October 1, the cost to pupils of participation
in the School Medical Service will be reduced from $7 to 35 a year.
At the same time, the Government's contribution will be increased
from $7 to $20 a year for each participating pupil.
Also from that date future first enrolments in the scheme will
be restricted to pupils in primary classes and Form I to Form III in
secondary schools. This revision is in line with the Government's present
policy of providing nine years of aided education.
:
The School Medical Service Board considers that Form III is an
appropriate dividing line as by that time most children have gone through.
the paediatric stage, after which the need for medical attention is
normally much less.
Present enrolment in the scheme is about 40,000, including pupils
in upper forms of secondary schools, who will be allowed to remain in
the scheme at the new rate of subscription until they phase out.
A fourth change in the scheme to take effect from October 1 is
an increased payment to participating doctors. They will receive $25 per
panel pupil a year instead of the present #14 an increase which takes
into account rising costs of drugs, administrative overheads, and pro-
fessional services.
In supporting this increased payment the School Medical Service
Board points out that remuneration to doctors has not been revised since
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the present scheme was first established.
/The