Health Reform: Cure Vs. Care

There’s a new twist in the health care debate: cure or care? Which do you think is going to cost less and is preferable: a cure for cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, or caring for people after they are diagnosed with these illnesses?

It’s better medical and public policy to direct more resources toward finding a cure for diseases that cost a lot to treat, instead of relying on government insurance programs, such as Obama Care, which seeks mainly to help pay bills for people after they become ill.

This is a no-brainer, especially in a recession-drained U.S. economy struggling to increase employment, drive down debt, maintain services and improve the quality of life for Americans.

But many politicians are locked into an “old school” paradigm that focuses too much on hospitals, doctors and prescription drugs and too little on medical research and preventative care, so people will not need hospitals, doctors, or drugs.

Obviously, we need another prescription for true health care reform.

Change Status Quo

As syndicated columnist Cal Thomas notes, the pursuit of cures as a priority will be thoroughly explored in “Serious Medicine Strategy,” a forthcoming book by James Pinkerton, a former senior advisor to the Mike Huckabee for president campaign.

Pinkerton, a former Newsday columnist , asserts it’s not a failure to fund research to cure diseases that ends lives prematurely but, rather, it’s absent the commitment by political leaders to make research a priority in their speeches and policy statements.

More than 50 years ago, political and medical communities rallied and led the public to a cure for polio and the elimination of the need for “iron lungs.” This feat was the medical equivalent of walking on the moon.

One has to wonder why we can’t develop a united front to find cures for diabetes, Alzheimer’s, cancer, and other major illnesses.

Pinkerton says it’s because of the “baneful influence of the (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration and trial lawyers.

Reforms We Need

WMB believes that if the government would protect the ability of entrepreneurs and scientists to create products without the risk of being sued into oblivion, capital would come pouring into the pharmaceutical sector from global investors.

WMB suggests opponents to Obama Care pick up on this strategy of cures before care. Instead, most politicians almost are singularly focused on repealing the entire health care “reform” law.

The health care package should be repealed, or at least experience an extreme makeover; Obama Care law doesn’t cure anyone of anything. Finding cures for diseases helps people live longer, and it’s cost-efficient for our society.

Consider all the money that has been saved by no longer having to treat victims of polio, smallpox and tuberculosis. Imagine the savings when a cure is eventually found for cancer!

Additionally, the retirement age could easily be raised since older people could work longer and live more vigorous and productive lives. More tax-generating citizens can help fuel the economy.

Sure, there are many promising research programs under way, ranging from stem cell research to genetic engineering. Researchers need to focus on diseases we are closest to curing and prioritize accordingly.

The question remains: Would you rather be healthy and fit and live a long life, or be taken care of in your illness by a government health system that sees you as a burden and is constantly trying to reduce care and lower costs?

The problem is that once a nation has made a wrong turn, it is difficult, if not impossible, to reverse the course.

WMB believes America still has time to make the right choices and move in the direction of cures. Now, all we need is decisive political leadership to provide the pathway for a much more productive society, with a better quality of life for its citizens.

This post is by TechMan, WMB co-author who blogs about trends, issues and ideas affecting business, industry, technology and consumers. If you like this post, please share it.