PROBLEMS IN INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE 79
should pay a benefit for the cost of decent burial on the
death of an insured person or his dependents.
Benefits in Kind: Treatment by a fully qualified doctor
and the supply of proper and sufficient medicines and ap-
pliances should be granted free of charge from the beginning
of the illness and for so long as the state of the insured per-
son’s health requires. These benefits are to be given at
least until the expiration of the period prescribed for the
grant of sickness benefit. Furthermore, there should be
available, as far as local and financial conditions permit,
facilities for services of specialists as well as dental treatment
and hospital treatment when necessary. While an insured
person is maintained in a hospital, the insurance institution
should pay to his dependents the whole or part of the sickness
benefit which would have been payable if he were not in the
hospital. Medical benefit should also be extended to mem-
bers of the insured person’s family living in his home and
dependent on him, whenever possible and practicable. In-
surance institutions should be empowered to avail them-
selves of such doctors as they need. In urban centers and
within specified geographical limits, an insured person should
be entitled to choose a doctor from among those at the dis-
posal of the insurance institution unless this involves too
great an expense to the latter.
Sickness Prevention: This section recommends a policy
of prevention. Sickness insurance should assist in inculcat-
ing the practice of the rules of hygiene among the workers.
It should give preventive treatments as soon as symptoms
of disease appear.
Organization of Insurance: Insurance institutions should
be administered, under the supervision of the competent
public authority, in accordance with the principles of self-
government. They are not to be carried on for profit. In-
sured persons should have an important part in their man-
agement through elected representatives. Concerted action
on a territorial basis is suggested.
Financial Resources: Financial resources should be pro-
vided by contributions from the insured persons and em-
Ployers, which can be supplemented by contributions from
public funds. Reserve funds should be constituted.
