EXTENSIONS IN VIEW

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 247, 18 October 1937, Page 7

EXTENSIONS IN VIEW

HEALTH INSURANCE THE SCHEME IN BRITAIN [ British Official Wireless. ] RUGBY, Oct. 15. The Minister of Health, Sir Kingsley Wood, spoke in London of the jubilee of the national health insurance scheme, which he said had become a successful and essential part of the British social system. The number of insured persons exceded 18,000,000, and the value of the benefits dispersed since the beginning of the scheme was £600,000,000. During the twenty-five years of its existence the magnitude of its operations had steadily increased and a recent valuation revealed a net disposable surplus of £20,000,000. Sir Kingsley Wood paid a tribute to Mr. Lloyd George as the parent of the national health insurance scheme, and spoke of further extensions which the Government had in view. Directly Parliament met for the new session he proposed to introduce a Bill making medical benefit available to young persons immediately they left school and entered insurable employment, thus filling a gap between school medical service and medical service under the Insurance Acts. National insurance, together with the services provided by the local authorities and the great voluntary organisations in Britain, made provision for sickness which was unsurpassed by any other country.