XN000022-1972-07-27 — Page 3

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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.

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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.

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