Germany’s huge state health insurance system is continuing the recent trend of collecting more money than it is spending, posting a surplus of €2.7bn (£2.2bn; $3.5bn) in the first half of 2012, the German health ministry has said.1

The system, made up of independent insurers regulated by the government and covering around 90% of the population, collected €94.82bn in premiums in the first half of 2012 and spent €92.13bn.

This first six month surplus of €2.7bn compares with a full year surplus last year of €4bn and suggests that the total surplus for 2012 will exceed last year’s.

The ministry …