34. Mr. MAJOLI (Italy) wished to know what the global increase of 54.1 per cent for the subsection applied to. I ... A/C.5/38/SR.34 English Page 7 35. Mr. FORAN (Controller) said that the increase was due to a combination of two factors affecting the health insurance coverage for retired staff (A/38/6, para. 28K.2). First, there had been an enormous increase in medical premiums, amounting to 55 per cent and secondly, an increase was expected in the number of retired staff and consequently the number of persons covered by the plan. In that connection, it should be noted that United Nations staff did not show a normal age-distribution curve. Large numbers of staff had been recruited in the early years of the Organization, between 1946 and 1952, and all had been more or less of the same age. Subsequently, the age pattern of staff at recruitment had become normal and the number of retired staff in relation to the number of active staff members had fallen in the intervening years. Owing to that special situation, the number of retired staff entitled to coverage by the health insurance plan would increase in the next few years. 36. The CHAIRMAN reminded the Committee that the estimates for ICSC (A/38/6, para. 28L.2) were only provisional, as was the initial recommendation of the Advisory Committee (A/38/7, para. 28.163), since ICSC had not yet formulated its proposals for the biennium 1984-1985 when the programme budget proposal had been prepared. The revised estimates for ICSC appeared in document A/C.5/38/28 and were analysed in the fifth report of the Advisory Committee (A/38/7/Add.4). 37. Mr. VISLYKH (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) said that the rules of procedure of ICSC stipulated that the Commission would meet at least once a year in 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the financial and administrative aspects of the United Nations' health insurance coverage for retired staff, including the impact of medical premium increases and changes in the age distribution of staff. The language used is formal and technical, suggesting that the topic is related to the organization's internal management and budgeting.

**Category**
Health, Employment