Mrs. Daniel Ward of London, Ontario, the races. She places her bet (top left) an right is misleading—Mrs. Ward collected Even WALL STREET JOURNAL cant hide the positive aspects of Saskatchewan's medicare By DR. ALEX GUEST MOST factual review of the Saskatchewan experiment in medical economics ap- peared in the Wall Street Jour- nal recently, and despite their obvious disapproval of the gov- ernment-financed © medical pro- gram, this most capitalist of newspapers. records the evolu- tion and*successes of a system of socialized medicine in the province. The Journal notes that as early at 1916, Saskatchewan be- gan a tax-supported insurance program to supply medical care to isolated areas. In 1947 this prevince introduced a plan to provide universal hospital ser- vices to its people..This example was followed by British Colum- ‘bia in 1949. A national hospital care plan _was instituted in 1958 ‘to pro- vide joint federal-provincial fin- ancing with the provinces ad- ministering their own plans. This is presently being supple- mented by the Hall Commis- sion’s call for comprehensive government-financed health ser- vices throughout Canada _ to cover costs of doctor bills, drugs, and such services as dental and eye care for minors. This, in general, is the medical care plan adopted in Saskatchewan in 1962. Presently the government is providing for more than 60 per- cent of the health care expendi- tures of Candians as compared to 35 percent in 1945. In the United States government out- lays account for only 25 percent of health spending, and this has not appreciably changed in 30 years. Since the Saskatchewan pro- gram was adopted the demand for medical services in that prov- ince has greatly increased. (The article carefully neglects to men- tion it, but the fact is that many people in need of medical care, who previously could not obtain ‘it for financial reasons, are now able to secure needed services.) The Wall Street Journal re- porter did not talk with the peo- ple who are now able to receive government-financed medical care, and in reading the article one learns nothing at all of how they feel about the new pro- gram. Apparently the reporter did not feel this a newsworthy item. However, he did interview a physician who is a member of the commission administering the plan who stated, “The plan has operated much better than any of us dreamed.” There is widespread physician support for the program, and it is mani- fested in many ways. Perhaps the most striking is that despite the exodus of several score phy- Sicians after the program’s in- itiation, Saskatchewan presently has 1,000 physicians, approx- imately 100 more than before the start of government-financed medical care. There were no instances men- tioned of misuse of medical ser- vices by patients. The only ex- amples given of misuse were by physicians who performed un- necessary procedures on patients because of the profit they made. However, these practices are now being curbed by joint goy- ernment-medical association ac- tion. ; Thus Saskatchewan, despite the lengthy and bitter dispute in 1962, has provided an example of an effective scheme for uni- versal, government-financed medical care. Presently it is be- -ing administered jointly by the medical association and the provincial government. Undoubt- edly there are improvements that could be made in the pro- gram, but these can be worked out as experience with a social- ized health system is achieved. The Saskatchewan program would surely serve as a fine ex- ample for any national plan for government-financed medical gare. Side of smelting aluminum . it comes to socialism. What do they cost? Curato (Forkin): $1.10 a pound. so on. And so on. ‘ What made it self-evident: First, he gave average Soviet wages. Here he. Was u too far off the mark: $12 weekly, arounnd 1938. Ther gave the price of shoes and suits and overcoats: al $100 each. Then staple foods: bread, butter, milk, % a pork, fish, potatoes. I’ve forgotten his figures but they v0 so high it was obvious that not only did Soviet citizem® naked and barefoot; if they ate bread they had no m left for potatoes; if they ate either, they could afford at most. one egg or two a week .. . His mistake waS in ting his lies side by side instead of being clever like t who say shoes cost $125 and let it go at that. J. $. Wallace As communism is brought near Things grow cheap, and people dear. FRENCHMAN and an American were born the # year and died the same year. So what? Wait: e4 them, independently, devised the electrolytic pret . . the same year. This is on@ several odd items I passed along to Ripley which he ® in his Believe It or Not cartoon. I was glad I had quit a ing when I saw the one he ran on Soviet wages and pe ; I carried it a long time and was sorry when it vanishe¢” cause if was self-evident proof that, however careful gnusp ba’ elsewhere, you are free to lie your head off W Subway (any distance, ride all day) 6 cents. Bus cents, tram 4 cents, newspapers 3 cents. Cod 29 cor was special today at Dominion Stores, 39 cents.) bread 8 or 9 cents a pound, white 13 cents. Potatoes 9 2 (I paid 11 cents last week: unusually high). Cottage © , 39 cents to 50 cents; eggs 8 to 14 cents; meat 85 cel Phoebe adds that she paid $30 each for pure dresses. It will be seen that their prices are appro@ ours .. . and, of course, will continue to. go lower and It also must be remembered medicare is free; that 10 paid when sick or at college; that rents are ridiculouslY wi Phoebe pays $10 monthly for a three-room apartment bath, heated; gas for cooking 25 cents a month extra: by sid I saw Frieda in Moscow pay $32 for white kid on paid $7.50 for synthetic ones. If you are interested in § other prices, here they are, fresh this week, from P tS, So Ww OS WANT AD-ventures By JANE GOODSELL July 17 LAUREL HEDGE FOR SALE, 1]-foot, you dig, $10. TU 9-8709. July 24 FREE FOR THE DIGGING, 11-foot laurel hedge. TU 9-8709. August 2 WANT SOMEONE TO RE- MOVE LAUREL HEDGE, will pay $1.25 a nhour. TU 9-8709. e May 24 SUMMER JOB WANTED by talented high school girl, prefer commercial art work or fashion modeling. BL 8-6756. June 5 HIGH SCHOOL GIRL NEEDS summer job, clerking, filing, ad- dressing envelopes, etc. BL 8- 6756. - June 28 : HIGH SCHOOL GIRL will babysit. BL 8-6756. ® February 15 | PUPPIES FOR SALE, part cocker, 1 male, 2 females, $10 each to good homes. CO 3-2578. February 28 3 CUTE PUPPIES. mother purebred cocker, $5 deliver within city 3-2578. March 10 TO GIVE AWAY puppies, real heart st tle, affecti , inten ctionate deli vel solutely free, will each Jim wi . chill ower yo ( 3 ad ealet® ig? where. Call CO 3-2578 # day or night. & April 3 j HELP WANTED: Ex? maid for general hous cooking & child cal® ¥ room & bath. Thurs: every other Sun. off, must have refs. FL 9 April 17 5165 WANT HOUSEKEEPER, sist mother with chil wl cleaning, no cooking, corated private room day Thurs. & every off, excellent wages. May 9 NO COOKING OR ji nD pba othe! FL k, P CARE, light housewM ry room with TV, every a Sun. off, no experi 169 sary, top wages. FL —From the RWD: of su Me pol July 16, 196—PACIFIC TRIBUNE