Doctors Okay Truman State Medicine Plan

President Truman's proposal for federal pre-paid health insurance would fulfill an important need in the nation's present health system, according to Dr. William L. Aycock, assistant professor of Preventive Medicine and Dr. Hugh Leavell, professor of Public Health.

Any plan for federal health insurance will be opposed by the American Association of Medicine, the two professors said. The AMA's chief concern is that the federal government will be unable to administer state medicine properly. This charge is unwarranted, said Aycock, since the government has succeeded in administering the public health program efficiently thus far.

Health and Education

Aycock then drew a parallel between compulsory health insurance and compulsory education. "A long time ago," he said, "society decided that education was good and that everyone, whether or not he could afford it or had the sense to get it, should get education. The need for health care is similarly desirable--what is the sense of educating a boy if he dies of T.B. at the age of 19?"

Careful examination of the successes and failures of the British "womb to tomb" health insurance plan was recommended by Leavell for the development of a health insurance system of our own.

Cooperative Medicine

Aycock remarked that the stampede in England for eyeglasses during the first weeks of state medicine there demonstrated the need for a system to get glasses for those who need them.

The highly specialized character of modern medicine makes it impossible for a general practicioner to administer complete care and emphasizes the necessity for some sort of cooperative medicine, Aycock said.