1954 Fredericton Encaenia
Alumni Oration
Delivered by: Turner, J. Gilbert
Content
"Dr. J. Gilbert Turner Says Partnership Needed To Finance Health Needs" Telegraph Journal (13 May 1954): Extract. (UA Case 67a, Box 2)
The executive-director of the Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, said here Wednesday night that a partnership of citizens, hospitals, doctors, health insurance plans and the government was the only solution to the problem of financing the health needs of Canada’s people.
Dr. J. Gilbert Turner, delivering the alumni address at the University of New Brunswick’s annual Encaenial dinner, said the financing of medical care is too big a burden for any one group to carry.
"Therefore the burden must be shared by a partnership of individual citizens, hospitals, medical profession, prepayment insurance plans and government, with government leaving to the voluntary groups the administrative responsibility for providing care and managing insurance."
Dealing with the topic "the financing of medical care," Dr. Turner noted that England’s national health service "leaves much to be desired" even with a budget increase in the last six years.
Can’t Carry Burden
"Australia has learned that government cannot carry the whole burden alone," so have the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and British Columbia. "I do not believe that government should presume to undertake tasks or functions which citizens who fulfill their responsibilities can perform as well or better on than own initiative.
He pointed out that the nationalization of the hospital system in Canada must lead eventually to doctors becoming "whole-time servants of the state."
"I believe the independence of our medical profession is of fundamental importance to every individual of this country and that such an asset much be preserved. Its value cannot be measured in dollar and cents."
The executive-director of the Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, said here Wednesday night that a partnership of citizens, hospitals, doctors, health insurance plans and the government was the only solution to the problem of financing the health needs of Canada’s people.
Dr. J. Gilbert Turner, delivering the alumni address at the University of New Brunswick’s annual Encaenial dinner, said the financing of medical care is too big a burden for any one group to carry.
"Therefore the burden must be shared by a partnership of individual citizens, hospitals, medical profession, prepayment insurance plans and government, with government leaving to the voluntary groups the administrative responsibility for providing care and managing insurance."
Dealing with the topic "the financing of medical care," Dr. Turner noted that England’s national health service "leaves much to be desired" even with a budget increase in the last six years.
Can’t Carry Burden
"Australia has learned that government cannot carry the whole burden alone," so have the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and British Columbia. "I do not believe that government should presume to undertake tasks or functions which citizens who fulfill their responsibilities can perform as well or better on than own initiative.
He pointed out that the nationalization of the hospital system in Canada must lead eventually to doctors becoming "whole-time servants of the state."
"I believe the independence of our medical profession is of fundamental importance to every individual of this country and that such an asset much be preserved. Its value cannot be measured in dollar and cents."
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