Evening star., 1952-12-21
For Progress in Health

meet opposition from the American Medical
Association, the report Of the Presidents Com
mission on the Health Needs of the Nation is
an altogether admirable and stimulating chal-
lenge that we'll deserves the careful attention of
every adult citizen. And by the same token,
as the product of an earnest and exhaustive
12-month study, it we'll deserves the careful
attention of the incoming Eisenhower admins
\ tration and the new Republican controlled
Congress-
For the report embodies in great detail the
findings OF probably the most searching and most
authoritative inquiry of its kind ever undertaken
in this country Drawn up by IS outstanding
and representative Americans headed bv DR.. Paul
B. Magnuson-a distinguished orthoredic sur
geon and former medical director of the Vet
erans' Administrations is especially impressive
because it has been submitted with onlv few
relatively minor dissents and reservations.
Since the full report is set forth in no fewer
than five thick Volumes brief and adequate
summary is not possible. But the commissions
more significant fintings-not unlike those of
the similar Ewing study in 194S-stand out
clearly enough. Thus, to begin with, although
great progress has been achieved in warning
against disease and increasing our average life
expectancy. we are not doing nearly as much as
we can and should do to make our Nation
stronger richer and happier land by improving
It's physical and mental health, which Is
tainly-by far-one of the most precious of all
our natural resources Instead, we are neglect
ing ourselves. And the neglect, besides costing
us vast number of unnecessary deaths each
year, means that we are robbing ourselves an
nually-through sickness and incapacitation that
could otherwise be prevented or sharply reduced
of potential production and wages worth many
billions of dollars.
Why? AS the Magnuson report emphasizes
there are numerous answers to the question:
including not least of all the individuals failure
to take care Of himself on his own. Wholly apart
from this personal factor however, we are not
as fit as we are capable of being because our
supply of physicians dentists, nurses. laboratory
technicians, hospital BEDS clinics research facil-
tiles, professional educational plants, etc, is
running far behind a steadily increasing national
demand for better services in these fields. Ex-
pansion is clearly needed here, but expansion
calls for a lot Of spending, and the medical
colleges-for example-just do not have the cash
required. In large part, too. lack Of money
accounts for the fact that the non-urban areas
OF the country are particularly short Of health
promoting facilities and personnel. And finally,
OF course with almost so per cent of our families
receiving $4,000 or less in annual income. many
an American simply cannot afford to visit doctors
or be hospitalzed
Accordingly. with these and kindred condi-
tions in mind, the Presidents Commission has
made the following recommendations among
others: % That the Federal Government extend
aid, in the form of grants, scholarships and the
like, to increase the output of health workers.
step up research and make many more hospital
beds and clinical services available in both rural
and urban areas; (2) that the Federal Govern
ment cooperate with the States in establishing
comprehensive prepayment plans-including the
Of social security funds for those able to pay
little or nothing-to give every American almost
complete protection" against the grave financial
hazards Of sickness, and (3) that the Federal
Government create new department-with
cabinet status-to deal with all matters of this
sort
Upon becoming fully effective according to
the Magnuson report, such a program would
require doubling of the 81 billion now being
spent each year by the Federal Government
in the field Of health, and 1t would cost the
States an additional $750 million. Thus. as
regards money outlay alone, the Presidents Com
mission has set forth plan that is bound to be
heavily attacked in economy minded quarters.
At the same time, as ANA spokesmen have
already indicated, some of the plans features
notably the prepayment proposal-will certainly
be denounced as blueprint for "socialzed
medicine"
however, anticipating lLS CrlCcS Cne COM
missions report counters the charge of Social
ization" with an emphatic assertion that the
proposed program would strictly limit the Gov
ernment's role to that of a stimulator, not
controller. Further, as far as cost is concerned,
the report cogently argues that the Nation
which annually spends many billions of dollars
on gambling, liquor and other frivolities-can
easily afford the outlay envisioned, the more so
because such an outlay promises to yield meal
culably valuable dividends in country whose
health standards can be greatly improved even
though they are now among the worlds highest.
So rests the case of the Presidents Com
mission. 1t is an impressive case, and the ANA
and like minded organizations will have to show
If they can-just where it is wrong or socalstic.
Certainly, if no such showing is made, the next
Congress should give the reports recommended
tions its most serious and sympathetic con-
sideration
1t Makes Sense
The emergence Of Senator Taft as an almost
certain choice for Majority Leader in the new