Americans are increasingly concerned with the cost, quality, and availability of health care. How do you see science, research, and technology contributing to improved health and quality of life?
John Wages
I support a national healthcare plan that covers all Americans. First of all, this plan must be truly universal---it must cover everyone. Second, it must be single-payer. Currently, we have a hodge-podge of personal, employer, insurance company, state government, and federal government payments. As a result of this administrative overhead, Americans pay more for healthcare than Canadians, the French, or the British. Significant cost savings will be achieved through replacing this confusion with single-payer, and the reduction in administrative paperwork will remove a major disincentive to young people to enter the medical profession. Third, this national healthcare plan must emphasize preventive medicine: prenatal and neonatal care, early diagnosis of heart disease and cancer, and education about diet and exercise. Advances in diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines, must be communicated directly to doctors and patients, rather than through pharmaceutical salesmen. Fourth, it must be accountable, with oversight as close to the community level as possible.
As previously stated, I support continued funding of basic research at an increased level, compared with the last decade.
Science and technology have already brought us new diagnostics for early detection of cancer, genetic diseases, and other disorders. These advances have increased the general lifespan and health of the population. With increased funding, as we propose, advances will continue to improve the well-being of Americans. Unfortunately, many millions of Americans do not have access to these benefits. Ensuring equal access to healthcare must become a major focus.