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and to co-ordinate the work of investigation on these questions in this country and abroad,
having regard to corresponding work undertaken by international health organisations."
The work of the Committee is continuing.
In June, 1926, your Medical Officer of Health was granted leave of absence at the request of
the Ministry of Health for purposes of a study tour of public health in Denmark along with representatives
of other nations. The tour occupied a period of seven weeks and the cost of the tour was
defrayed by the League of Nations, with certain grants from the Rockefeller Foundation. Four
weeks were spent in Copenhagen, which is a city with a population of about 600,000, while the remaining
weeks were spent in the inspection of rural Denmark and various national institutions established
for the unsound in mind or body. The public health work of Denmark represents a blending
of the systems in force in England, namely, the Public Health service as it is known here and the
National Health Insurance service. The National Health Insurance service, however, has a wider
scope in Denmark than it has in England, while the Public Health service is correspondingly reduced.
The institutions for the unsound in Denmark are mainly State institutions, and it is worthy of note
that the General Hospitals of Denmark and Copenhagen compare very favourably indeed with the
Voluntary Hospitals in this country.
The tour was particularly instructive and useful, especially as the result of discussions which
took place amongst the representatives of the 14 nations represented as to the methods in operation
in their respective countries. There is no doubt that a study tour of public health in any country in
company with representatives of other nationalities is of great service, and I have to thank the
Council for enabling me to accept the invitation which was given me.
Mr. Dibblin was appointed Chief Sanitary Inspector in succession to the late Mr. Woods,
and took up his duties on 20th September, 1926.
Your obedient servant,
GEORGE F. BUCHAN,
Medical Officer of Health.