Many people will have received the news in the last week or so that their private health insurance premiums are going up.

And if you haven't got yours yet, don't worry, it's on the way. For working people this is tough, but it is potentially disastrous for some senior citizens.

Senate President Alf Oughton said this week that the review on health care that he chaired in 1996 recommended that a health council be formed to deal with disputes over health costs between physicians, the hospital, insurers and patients.

This was never done, and although it is true that a Cabinet commitee is examining the whole question, it should be done and done soon.