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January 2003, Vol 93, No. 1 | American Journal of Public Health 14
© 2003 American Public Health Association

EDITOR'S CHOICE

Quality, Affordable Health Care for All Americans

Edward M. Kennedy, Sen


Figure 1
America is rightly proud to be at the forefront of medical and scientific advances. In the past year, we successfully mapped the human genome. We developed new pharmaceuticals to target specific cancers. Stem cell research means new hope for millions suffering from chronic diseases. We clearly recognize the value of scientific achievement, and we offer generous support to the institutions and scientists guiding this extraordinary progress.

But our successes in the science of medicine must not blind us to the glaring failure of our health care system to make quality health care available and affordable for all our people. We lead the world in medical research. We lead the world in our ability to cure and treat the most complex and deadly illnesses. But we lag behind every other industrialized nation in the world in guaranteeing all our people access to the best medical care we can offer. And every year we delay, the crisis worsens.

Last month, the Census Bureau released new data showing that the number of uninsured Americans has soared to more than 41 million. In the course of a year, 30 million more will have gaps in coverage. Health costs keep rising at double-digit rates. If we do nothing, the number of the uninsured will continue to grow.

The human costs are staggering. Lack of insurance creates a tragic burden of unnecessary disease, early death, and financial devastation. As a recent compendium of data (Institute of Medicine Committee on Assuring the Health of the Public in the 21st Century. The Future of the Public’s Health in the 21st Century. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press; 2002) by the Institute of Medicine demonstrates, whether the disease is AIDS or mental illness or cancer or heart disease or diabetes, the uninsured are left out and left behind. In hospital and out, young and old, Black and White, the uninsured receive less care, suffer more, and are substantially more likely to die than those who are insured.

The public understands the need for action. Support for health care for all has always been strong, and the worsening crisis has raised the public’s sense of urgency. Americans know that even families who have health insurance today are just one pink slip away from being uninsured. In the battle to make affordable health care a reality for all, there is no substitute for leadership. The American Public Health Association has always been a powerful force for universal health care, and its continued commitment and activism are essential.

Health care is not just another commodity. It is not a gift to be rationed based on the ability to pay. It is time to make universal health insurance a national priority, so that the basic right to health care can finally become a reality for every American.


Figure 2




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L. O. Gostin, J. I. Boufford, and R. M. Martinez
The Future Of The Public's Health: Vision, Values, And Strategies
Health Aff., July 1, 2004; 23(4): 96 - 107.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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