PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Health

Doctors May Stop Discounting Fees

Libertarianz spokesman Richard McGrath today wondered whether his medical colleagues would shorten consultation times and cease discounting fees in response to the government's persecution of general practitioners who want to raise their charges.

"Doctors have a long history of generously discounting their fees, and at times offering their services at no surcharge, to less well-off patients - all without the need for government coercion," he added.

"The fees review committees which are designed to implement price controls in the provision of primary medical care will rapidly erode the goodwill of these doctors. Faced with increasing job stress, heavy work hours and spiralling wage bills, doctors have an absolute right to charge what they see fit for their services," said Dr McGrath.

Libertarianz would remove the heavy hand of the state from health care, allowing doctors to charge whatever fee they wanted to, but would also stop the taxpayer subsidies they have received for the last seventy years.

ENDS

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Metservice: Where Will Snow Fall And What To Look Out For

The deep Antarctic air that is expected to sweep across the country this week is bringing very significant weather to many provinces.Here's the official MetService view of the key weather concerns for the country.

MetService Media and Communications Meteorologist Dan Corbett commented,"While snow will be a major issue for those in the South Island, wind and hail will affect many North Island districts."

Snow is expected to fall to sea level, or very near it, from Southland to South Canterbury from late Wednesday into Thursday and Friday. The snow level is expected to rise to 200m from about Christchurch northwards... More>>