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Article 4, paragraph 1, of the Convention. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in reply to its previous comments concerning the requirement of a prior period of contribution for medical assistance to be granted whereas such a requirement is not provided for in Article 4, paragraph 1, of the Convention. It recalls that this question is not related to beneficiaries' possible participation in the cost of medical benefit, which is dealt with in paragraph 2 of Article 4. In these circumstances and in view of the relatively short qualifying period (four weeks of contribution) prescribed in section 8 of Decree No. 770 of 30 April 1975 (General Sickness and Maternity Insurance Regulations), the Committee expresses the hope that the Government will have no difficulty in abolishing any prior period of contribution for the grant of medical assistance, for example when the above-mentioned General Sickness and Maternity Insurance Regulations are reviewed. It would be grateful if the Government would provide information on progress made in this respect.