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