Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1945-11-30

ChlIQ IN the OnlIeQ OIdIeS'
He says; Millions of our
portunity to achieve or enjoy
good health; millions do not
have protection against the
economic effects of sickness.
Even prewar, there were 81
counties in the United States
each with more than 1000 in
habitants in which there were no
practicing physicians. A b o u I
1900 counties, with some Is mil
lion inhabitants have either no
local hospital or none that meets
even the minimum standards of
national professional associa-
tions.
Selective Service had to reject
five million young men, or one
third of those examined, An
additional three million had to
be discharged or rehabilitated.
In his message, the President
reviews the main problems and
needs, and he submits five
point program for legislative ac-
tion.
Submits 5-pOint Program
Recommendation 1. Construc-
ton of hospitals and related faci-
lities. Federal aid should be
provided for construction Of hos
pitals. health centers and other
facilities where they are needed.
These are essential If doctors are
to be able to furnish modern
services.
Recommendation 2. Expan-
sion of public health, maternal
and child health services. The
existing cooperative health pro
grams between the Federal and
State governments should be ex-
panded with the help of increas-
ed Federal funds. All parts Of
the country and all groups in the
population should be able to
benefit from them. Expansion is
especially important to prevent
disease and TO provide service
for mothers and children APP
proximately 40 million persons
in the United States live in COM
munities which still lack full
time public health services.
Recommendation 3. Medical
education and research. We can
not remain satisfied with what
we already know about health or
disease. The opportunities for
further health progress are very
large. Research pays large divi-
dends. Professional education
should keep pace with progress,
Federal grants in aid should as
sist and encourage research, so
that we shall learn more about
how TO prevent and cure disease.
Federal aid should also support
more adequate professional edu-
cation. Special emphasis should
be paid TO research on the cause,
prevention and cure of cancer
end mental illnesses.
Recommendation 4. Prepay
ment of medical costs Every
one should have ready access to
ell necessary medical, hospital
and related services. The costs
of essential medical services
should not stand in the way Of
the patient who needs care.
Proposes Health Insurance
A compulsory national health
insurance system is proposed to-
ward attaining this goal. 1t
would be a system for prepay
ment of the costs through pre-
miums which people could af-
ford, and which are paid while
they are well and working.
This is not socialized medicine.
Prepayment W you d relieve
families of worry about medical
costs and would encourage them
10 receive care as soon as it is
needed. Thus, IL would also
work toward preventing serious
disease.
Patients Free Choice
Patients would remain free to
choose their doctors. Doctors
would remain free to accept or
reject patients. Hospitals would
continue to manage their own
services. Voluntary organizations
could participate in the insur-