6 MARCH 1926, Page 4

The Royal Commission which has inquired into the existing system

of Health Insurance has returned on the whole a favourable verdict. It is agreed by all that the compulsory and contributory principles must remain, but both the majority and Minority propose modifica tions. There is a unanimous recommendation that the Insurance Committees should be abolished and that their duties should be transferred to the beat authorities. The minority desire that the local authorities shdAld also perform the functions which at present belong to the Approved- Societies. The most striking of the many proposals made by the majority are that there 'should be a partial pooling-in future -of the surpluses of the Approved Societies and that the-medicalbenefits should be extended • to -include expert -medical treatment, laboratory services and dental treatment. The majority recognize, however, fiat_ a further increase of cost is out of the question at .present.