Global Health Crisis
Official Blog of Rep. Mark B. Cohen
http://www.phillyblog.com/mark_cohen/

An intersting commentary on the global health crisis and the current administration's policy. What are your thoughts?

Steve,

I agree totally with what Mr. Cohen seems to be saying in his blog entry- healthcare is a worldwide problem. It is also one that Mr. Bush's administration is doing very little to seriously address.

Cohen is absolutely right about the unethical use of government funds to subsidize pharmaceutical giants who are already rolling in $$$.

As someone who works in a hospital, I can personally attest to the excess spending of pharmaceutical companies- from lavish free lunches, vacations and event tickets to doctors, down to seemingly unlimited perks to pharmaceutical reps (including free luxury cars for personal use) for persuading doctors to prescribe their company's over-priced medications.

I once spoke with a former friend who is an administrator for a major pharm. company in the area, and he boasted of the lavish free vacations, giveaways, and perks they enjoyed. All the while our middle class seniors and working class citizens are being strapped with skyrocketing healthcare costs, AND people around most of the third world have NO ACCESS to healthcare or medications that could save their lives.

He told me that they spend a few million on providing affordable medicines like AIDS drugs to African nations- to which I say that is a start, but it is not nearly enough!

The pharmaceutical industry is a multi-billion $$$ cash cow and they can only cough up a couple of million when there are countless people dying of treatable medical conditions in impoverished countries?? Shame on them!

Something is very wrong with this picture.

The greed must stop, and affordable, life-saving medications must be made available NOW to the people who need them most!

Politicians need to also step up to the plate, confront the greed, and take a stand against these huge special interest lobbies that want to railroad through their funding bills at the expense of the impoverished and middle class people in our nation and world.

Peace,

J

I agree with Cohen also. With the last redistricting I found myself one of his constituents and voted for him in the last election. I think his father has been one of the best and most dedicated public servants we have had in recent times here.