Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-29

ness not only entails physical suffer-
ing but loss of time from work and a
- consequent loss of wages or salary
either to the individual or the company by
which he is employed. In addition, there is
the depressing presence of doctor bills nos
pital bills, nurses bills and bills for meo1cne.
One single siege of sickness sometimes sets 3
family back so far financially that year OF TWO
NAV elapse before it is its feet again.
The United States has been among the most
progressive countries IN the world in promoting
public health work A great tribute Is Que 70
the physicians of the Nation for their unSeinsn,
generous and patriotic service in the cause OF
preventive medicine service which has saved
thousands of lives with little or no acCuAl coSS
70 the individual.
But In spite Of these facts, the bill Tor III
health IN this country is distTeSsingly large. II
has been estimated at approximately $6,OOO,-
100000 in money actually spent annually. II to
this is added estimates of the possibility OF
death and permanent impairment, the figures
can be showed up much higher-poSSibly TO
$4,000, GOO 600.
The care of the sick and the promotion Of
health may be said to be one Of the largest
industries" IN this country; at least 1t EN-
ploys among the largest number Of people.
There are SOC, 600 persons engaged in the
care and prevention OF sickness and in other
forms Of health work, only $4,000 Of whom
are physicians. Practitioners OF various sorts,
nurses dentists, laboratory workers. hospital at
tendants and health officials make up the re-
mainder According to the latest figures avail
able, only one other industry employs more
people
WITHIN the next year there win be available
70 the public an almost fabulous story
concerning the cost to the individual and to
families Of their own illnesses, the actual time
which they lose because Of sickness or III health
and the huge sums Of money which are ex-
pended every year by families in their efforts TO
keep wen.
This great gift Of medical knowledge is COM
ing from the Committee on the Costs Of Medi-
cal Care, an organization sponsored and financed
by the greatest foundations Of the country.
Already nearly four years work on the fve-year
program of the committee has been completed.
Ire ultimate ideal in such a survey is TO
furnish such an analysis Of the cost Of medical
care rs win enable each member of civilized
society to obtain the greatest possible advantage
from an the pooled knowledge Of the medical
profession at a price that viii be within his
means. But It has been kept in mind at the
same time that the physician must be enabled
TO make a comfortable enough living to justify
the years Of study and the actual expenditure
IN money which have gone into his training.
The rapid changes incident to new economic
order OF living in the United States have placed
the public, especially those Of moderate means,
In the position Of paying more than they can
readily afford for the service they get. and at
the same time placed the doctors, or most Of
them at least, in the position of not receiving
anything like sufficient pay for the services
they give. Doctors perhaps the greatest group
Of individualists in the world, now seem to be
in the position Of having TO work out some sort
Of cooperative program whereby their COM
bined knowledge will be made available TO
everybody.
The committee, even when 1t has completed
its work, cannot bring about the organization
Of the medical profession along social or eco
nOmic lines. It can, however, make recon-
mendations that will point the way toward q
solution Of some Of the problems solution
which may be effected by medical practitioners
and institutions 10, is or even 20 years hence
It Is making the first comprehensive survey Of
the work Of a profession which affects the
welfare Of every man, woman and child In the
country It win furnish the most complete
picture which has yet been painted.