Partisan Ideology Should Take A Back Seat To Healthy Americans
Watching President Bush's State of the Union Address recently, I was reminded of the many differences of opinions in our country and how we are allowed to openly debate those issues. Often through the President's speech we saw either Democrats or Republicans applauding and smiling when they were in support of Bush's ideas, or seated when they disagreed. For the most part, this is what makes America a great country.
However, at a time when America needs to find a way to come together to solve the critical issues facing our nation, I was saddened to witness such partisan politics in Washington. Meaningful discussion, compromise, and resolution will be hindered by this type of dialogue. Call me a fool, but I expect more, especially as we face the challenges of meeting our society's needs of health care and retirement solutions.
We all like to think that the health care system in the United States is the world's envy. But, if the United States has the best health care system in the world, then why do we rank so poorly according to a World Health Organization report?
Out of 191 countries ranked, the United States was 37th best, but the most expensive. While some have criticized its methodology, the report indicates that the United States spent $4,178 per capita on health care in 1998. For the sake of comparison, 29 countries that are members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) had a median per capita expenditure of $1,783. The OECD is made up of countries committed to democratic government and the market economy. It includes countries like Germany, France, Great Britain, Japan, and the United States.
The report suggests that health care expenditures in the United States are likely high due to the rising costs of medical technology, prescription drugs, the administration of a complex payer system, the high number of uninsured, and the country's aging population. Do the other democratic and free market economy nations not face similar challenges?
Rising health care costs could raise taxes, depress wage gains, and limit other government programs. In the future, can we really afford Medicare, Social Security, and our current market driven health care system as they are now devised? And, with rising costs if changes in those areas are not made, where will future funding come from? Education? Security? Infrastructure? Research? These are hard choices, no doubt.
To make matters worse, in 2004, there were nearly 46 million people without health insurance.
Robert J. Samuelson of the Washington Post recently wrote that fixing the health care system would involve discomforting choices. We want care for everyone, freedom for doctors and patients to choose as they see fit, and easy affordability. Right now, we can provide two, but not all three. Reform will involve fundamental change, not convenient sound bites to reflect public opinion or partisan, special interest tinkering. No health care system, government or private, will completely satisfy public opinion.
The United States is one of the richest countries in the world, yet the rising costs of health care can drive patients away from the care they need. That shouldn't happen here. In his State of the Union Address, President Bush said, "For all Americans-for all Americans-we must confront the rising cost of care, strengthen the doctor-patient relationship, and help people afford the insurance coverage they need."
We agree. And, the Pennsylvania Medical Society welcomes the President's goals to help drive the debate. If serious action is not taken, this crisis will only get worse. Likely, it will negatively impact each one of us in ways we haven't imagined.
Disease is no partisan foe. Republican or a Democrat …it doesn't care. The Post's Samuelson wrote, "Although these familiar scapegoats [drug companies, insurers, trial lawyers, and bureaucrats] may not be blameless, the real problem is us. We demand the impossible. The changes we truly need are political. We need to reconnect people with the public consequences of their private acts…. We don't have the health care system we need, but we do have the one we deserve."
If we hope to build a better health care system and ensure the health of our populace, the time has come for partisan politics in Washington to stop and meaningful discussion to begin.
Pennsylvania Medical Society
Partizan ideologie ar trebui sã ia un loc în spate pentru a sãnãtoºi de americani - Partisan Ideology Should Take A Back Seat To Healthy Americans - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate