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