Evening star., 1947-01-10
Unprecedented Drive
IolmproveU:S. Health
Mapped in Budget

The beginnings of an unprece-
dented campaign to improve the
health Of the Nations Capital and
the Nation at large are brought to
light in the 1947-48 budget sent to
Congress today.
Carried in the budget are initial
funds for a wide range Of health
improvements, both local and ma
tional, including:
1. A 81, 2,750. 900 request to buy land
for and draw up early plans for
Washington's 1,500-bed $20,000, 900
hospital center.
2. A $850,000 request for purchase
of land and plans for $7,500, 900
national institute of mental health
at the National Institute Of Health
in Bethesda.
$2,6s0,0 900 to Buy Land.
3. A $2,650,o00 request for pur-
chase of land and plans for an esti-
mated $18,000,00 in additional i'm
provements to the National Insti-
tute Of Health at Bethesda, includ-
ing additional laboratory buildings,
600-bed clinical research hospital
for general research including in
tensive study of cancer and cardio-
vascular diseases, quarters and
maintenance buildings and miscel-
laneous improvements.
4. A request for $50, ,965, 900 to pro-
vide initial grants in aid of the
country's hospitals under the terms
Of the Hill-Burton Act, in which
District institutions will share. The
act authorized total of $50, ,000, 900.
S. A request Of 1901 900 to finance
surveys Of Government departments
and agencies by the Public Health
Service to find what Federal en-
ploye health programs should be in
stalled under the Randolph -Downey
Act.
Grants for Research.
6. Increases for the Public Health
Service all along the line for re-
search, especial emphasis on re-
search grants for cancer studies
and other pathological investiga-
tions. The National Institute o.
Health, for instance, would receive
S., 100000 as against $3,052,778 this
year for general research grants
and the National Cancer Institute
would get $4,000, 900 as against $483,-
470 this year for grants in aid Of
cancer research.
Total Public Health Service ap-
propriations would be raised under
the terms of the budget from $104,-
O88,516 to $167, ,723, 700.
Washington's hospital center, to
which Garfield, Emergency and
Episcopal Hospitals would move.
was authorized by the last Con-
gress. A half-dozen sites for it are
under consideration for it. The
only one named to date, however,
Is the Glover Estate at MaSsachu-
sets and Nebraska avenues NV.
At present a committee of doc
tors and hospital officials is work.
ing on early plans for the center
in cooperation with the Public
Buildings Administration. The lat
ter is charged with responsibility
for designing and building 1t.
Last Word ON Design. J
Last word on the possible design
for the hospital came from Pub
Lie Buildings Commissioner w. E.
Reynolds, who said 1t might in
corporate some Of the features Of
Sweden's Soder (Southern) Hos
pital-the largest building in Swe-
den.
The budget request of 1901 900 to
make surveys on which to base
Federal employe health programs
will have wide repercussions in the
Capital, where thousands OF Fed
eral workers some day will benefit.
Every Government agency has
asked that a survey be made OF Its
health needs.
The agencies, under the Ran
dolph- -Downey Act, could either hire
their own doctors and health per-
sonnel with special appropriations
asked for the purpose or contract
for medical service in whole or in
part with other Government agen-
cies or outside health services and
institutions and doctors.
Program Aim Fourfold.
The aim of the program would be
fourfold:
/. To provide treatment on the
Job for illness and dental work re-
quiring emergency attention.
2. To provide pre- e-employment and
periodic medical examinations.
3. To provide a service for refer
raj of patients to private physicians
and dentists.
4. To set up preventive health
education programs.
Truman indicates Doubt
Draft Will Be Continued