People's Health Movement and US Health care Reform: Letter in Lancet
This week’s edition of the Lancet (12/5/2009) features a letter to the editor about US health care reform written on behalf of the US People’s Health Movement. We were very pleased that the Lancet chose to feature a quote from the letter on their cover:
“The health-care reform process exposes how corporate influence renders the US government incapable of making policy on the basis of evidence and the public interest.”
The text of the letter can be read at this link.
American exceptionalism?
One of the many curious things about the current health care reform debate in Washington is the extent to which the US is considered to be outside of the community of nations. We are judged by our own standards and can learn only from our own experiences. This phrase is neatly captured in the desire for a “uniquely American solution” to health care. (See our prior posting about “misleading messaging” and the failure of health care reform).
But what are we to say about a health care “solution” that will deny women abortions, deny care to undocumented workers and their families, not provide universal health care, and not recognize a right to health? What are we to say about a health care system delivered up to the insurance companies and big Pharma? Isn’t this really just a “uniquely corporate solution” to health care?
In the letter we suggest something different:
There is no excuse for the USA not to adopt a system like any of those in many other countries that cover everyone and control costs—systems that better integrate public health and individual medical care. Without such a system, comprehensive primary health care will not be implemented, nor will the social determinants of health be effectively addressed.
The belief in US exceptionalism must be laid to rest. People living in the USA are as entitled to the right to health as others, and the USA should be accountable to the same standards as any other country.
The People’s Health Movement (PHM) was established in December of 2000 in Bangalore to keep alive the goal of “Health Care for All.” It is an organization of activists, academics, and grass roots organizations from around the world. The website of the US circle of the PHM is at http://www.phm-usa.org/
posted by Matt Anderson, MD (a co-signator)
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