| "The World Health Organization/WHO...in an article in | | | | 1. What would you do to achieve needed systemic |
| [the medical journal] "Lancet", the agency unveils its | | | | reforms in the health care system that would cover |
| two-year long effort to forge a set of universal rules | | | | all Americans, manage costs and improve quality? |
| for disclosing the data from clinical trials...With its new | | | | As a retired nurse married to an Internist/Geriatrician |
| manifesto, the WHO ...outlines 20 data requirements | | | | Professor I understand that the amount of money |
| that must be disclosed for all trials...PHRMA, the | | | | spent on health care does not translate into better |
| American drug industry's lobbying arm, argues that | | | | care. Studies show that the USA is number one in |
| disclosing details...would deter innovation...and the | | | | costs, but not in positive outcomes. Because of fear |
| lobbyists mutter, it would be the end of the industry." | | | | of law suits many expensive high tech interventions |
| The Economist/May 20th-26th 2006, page 83. | | | | are done routinely and without restraint. When new |
| Highly unlikely with the congress we have now. For | | | | procedures become commonplace, the costs of |
| to pass the WHO's rules, would put patient safety | | | | these older techniques do not decrease. Reform is |
| before profit motive and that is NOT how this | | | | necessary. |
| Congress works. | | | | The U.S. Public Health Service Task force has |
| We the people are the patients and we the people | | | | determined the most beneficial screening procedures |
| need to know where our congressional | | | | and immunization schedules. A health care plan that |
| representatives stand on this and many other health | | | | would cover all citizens should follow these |
| care issues. | | | | established and well recognized guidelines. |
| Health care is NOT a commodity. The facts on the | | | | 2. What measures are you supporting to assure |
| ground are that the richest country in the world has | | | | affordable health insurance coverage for all |
| 46 million uninsured and many millions more that are | | | | Americans? |
| underinsured. This is gross injustice where the rich | | | | As of 2004, there were nearly 46 million people who |
| get tax cuts and the poor go without basic health | | | | had no health coverage and millions more who were |
| care in the land we claim is of the free and the | | | | underinsured and incurring significant out-of-pocket |
| proud. | | | | expenses. Almost six million people lost their |
| Uninsured and insured alike all watch TV and are | | | | coverage between 2000 and 2004. |
| bombarded with drug ads enticing them with | | | | Health care for all citizens is essential and must be a |
| promises of energy, sexual potency or just the ability | | | | priority for congress. However, I also stress the need |
| to go fishing without the ache of baby boomer | | | | for preventive medicine, personal responsibility and |
| osteoarthritis. | | | | life style choices. Rather than look to government to |
| One-of many- reasons health care costs are so high | | | | meet all needs, the community of retired medical |
| in the USA, is because of the costs of unnecessary | | | | professionals is an untapped resource. |
| pharmaceutical ads targeted to consumers and not | | | | Retired people who remain active and involved live |
| patients. Every physician is well aware of the old and | | | | fuller and healthier happier lives. Retired professionals |
| the new drugs as soon as they become available. | | | | could offer pricelss public service by offering |
| Throughout America, a good salary can be had by | | | | educational seminars in schools, places of worship and |
| persistent drug Rep's who visit medical offices with | | | | community centers to educate and encourage the full |
| free samples, literature and free lunch for all. | | | | engagement of every individual to be pro-active |
| The cost of those salaries, the give a-ways, and all | | | | regarding their own and their families' health. |
| the TV and print media advertising pushes up the | | | | 3. What measures are you supporting to control |
| cost of every pill dispensed and every drop of | | | | rapidly rising health care costs and health insurance |
| intravenous fluid. | | | | premiums? |
| Pharmaceutical companies enjoy patent protection, | | | | Employer health insurance premiums increased 73 |
| so the claim that strict guidelines and full disclosure on | | | | percent between 2000 and 2005. During the same |
| drug trial outcomes will cut into their profits is not | | | | period, inflation rose only 15 percent and the |
| just bogus: it has proven deadly. | | | | employee share of employer's health insurance |
| Case in point: Vioxx, the painkiller that Merck withheld | | | | premiums rose 143 percent. A hybrid system using |
| the data suggesting a higher risk of heart problems | | | | the existing insurance companies to be intermediaries |
| for some users was NOT disclosed. Thus, Vioxx was | | | | would be my choice. The federal government is too |
| allowed on the market but would not have been if | | | | inefficient and the abuses in the Medicare/Medicaid |
| the WHO's twenty requirements and full disclosure | | | | programs prove that government should not be |
| had been the law of the land in America. | | | | trusted in imposing managed care. The state of |
| But corporate interests won out and we the people | | | | Massachusetts has enacted a law that requires health |
| should ask our congressional reps "WHY not WHO | | | | insurance thru a combination of government |
| instead?" | | | | incentives, employer subsidy, etc. This program |
| Looking to big brother to protect us will NOT happen | | | | should be carefully watched by all, for the answer |
| if we remain uniformed and uninvolved. | | | | may be right in front of us. |
| Politicians must be held accountable and patriots have | | | | Another reason for high costs is the high cost of |
| always asked the hard questions and did NOT give | | | | medical malpractice insurance. Malpractice cases must |
| up on the pursuit of justice. | | | | be capped; there must be more arbitration and less |
| We the people must also take personal responsibility | | | | compensation to attorneys. |
| for our own bodies and be pro-active and get off | | | | Our strength is in solidarity: we the people can speak |
| the couch. It is only a simple matter of choice to | | | | with one voice about healing our ailing health care |
| choose to do the right thing: don't smoke, eat | | | | system; we can become one fierce force of energy |
| nutritional dense food, play/exercises daily and get | | | | when we stand in solidarity for people rights and |
| adequate rest. | | | | NOT for corporate profits. |
| We all know the drill, all we need is the will. | | | | "Be the change you want to see in the world"-Gandhi |
| We the people should also be asking our | | | | Begin by questioning your your congressional |
| congressional representatives what they intend to do | | | | representatives and candidates for office about |
| about the ailing health care system in the USA, I | | | | health care. If you don't like their answers rise up and |
| offer three and my response as a candidate for | | | | run yourself. I am. |
| House of Representatives District 5 in Florida. | | | | |