Evening star., 1947-05-19
The tert of President Truman's

fuHlOD lVlC0o&
The tert OF President Trnmans
message to Congress on ma
tionaI health program tollotos
Healthy citizens constitute OUR
greatest national resource. In time
of peace, as in time of war, our uitl-
mate strength stems from the vigor
of our people. The welfare ana
security of our nation demand that
the opportunity for good health oe
made available TO all, regardless OF
residence, race or economic status.
At no time can we afford to lose
the productive energies and capac-
tiles of millions of our citizens. Nor
can we permit our children to grow
I'D without fair chance of survival
and a fair chance for healthy life.
We must not permit our rural FAM
lilies to suffer for lack of physicians,
dentists. nurses and hospitals. We
must not reserve q chance for good
health and long productive life to
the well-to-do alone. A great and
free nation should bring good health
care within the reach of all its peo-
pie.
In my message to the Congress on
November 19, 1945, said that every
American should have the right to
adequate medical care and to ade-
uuate protection from the economic
threat of sickness. To provide this
care and protection is a challenging
task, requiring action on a wide
! front.
Program Again Outlined.
I have previously outlined the
long range health program which l
consider necessary to the national
welfare and security. I say again
that such a program must include:
l.. Adequate public health services,
including an expanded maternal
and child health program.
| 2. Additional medical research
and medical education.
3. More hospitals and more doc
tors-in all areas of the country
where they are needed.
| 4. Insurance against the costs OF
medical care.
| S. Protection against loss of earn
ings during illness.
I am pleased to observe that i'm
portant advances were made by the
last Congress toward realization of
some of the goals which I set forth
in my earlier message. But we must
not rest until we have achieved
all our objectives. I urge this Con-
gress to enact additional legisla-
ton to authorize the program I
have outlined, even though the full
fillment of some aspects of 1t may
take time.
Research Expansion Urged.
Our public health services-Fed-
eral, State and 1ocal-provide our
greatest and most successful de-
fense against preventable diseases.
But in many States, cities and
counties in America, limited funds
reduce the work of our public
health services to dangerously
inadequate level. Public services
related to maternal and child
health were expanded by the 10th
Congress, through amendments to
the Social Security Act. This action
was gratifying. but the long-range
need for additional health services
for children and expectant mothers
and for care of crippled or other
wise physically handicapped child
rem, should be carefully studied by
the Congress.
The Nations medical research
programs must in the future be ex-
panded so that we can learn more
about the prevention and cure OF
disease. The Congress has already
recognized this by providing for re-
search into the causes OF cancer
and mental diseases and abnormal
tiles. Further dividends will accrue
to our Nation-and to our people
If research can point the way to-
ward combating and overcoming
such ma jor illnesses as arthfftis and
rheumatic fever, and diseases OF the
heart, kidneys and arteries.
We still face a shortage of hos
pitals, physicians, dentists and
nurses. Those we have are unfairly
distributed. The shortage of doc
tors, dentists and nurses can be
met only through expanded educa-
tional opportunities. The shortage
of hospitals will be met in part
through the action of the last Con-
gress which provided Federal aid for
the construction of hospitals.
In the last analysis the patients
ability to pay for the services OF
physicians or dentists, or for hos