Evening star., 1954-12-20
The Proof of Need Is There

Late in October the Commissioners
halted preparation Of designs for new
3O0-bed, S2.4 million tuberculosis hospital.
The hospital is part of the public works
program. 1t was included in that program
after study by citizens committees, the
Commissioners and the Budget Bureau. Con-
gress appropriated the money for it last
spring.
But the Commissioners, questioning
current Health Department figures, con-
cluded that presentation of the need by the
Health Department was inadequate, and
that apparent statistical discrepancies
needed more study and further explanation.
The Health Department was ordered to pro-
duce more convincing justification of need.
That justification of need is being prepared
now and should be available soon.
The Stars own inquiries into this sur
prising situation indicate that the need for
the hospital exists, but that the Health
Department failed to make it clear. Wash
ington's tuberculosis death rate Is second in
the country-compared with the States, or
compared with cities in it's population group.
The Commissioners Health Advisory Com
mittee, which includes the president of the
District Medical Society and a representa-
tive of the United States Public Health
Service, has reported its unanimous opinion
that the need for the hospital exists and
will continue to exist in the foreseeable flu
ture: At meeting of physicians early this
month, called by Commissioner Camalier
under auspices Of the medical society, the
need for the hospital was reaff1rmed. The
District tuberculosis Association has made
a new rundown of statistical data which
supports the need, and has turned it over
to the Health Department.
The Commissioners acted as responsible
officials in requiring that the need for the
hospital be re-established beyond doubt The
Star believes that this can be done. The
Health Department, supported by the Tuber-
culosis Association, the Medical Society, the
medical schools and physicians of this city,
must see to it, however, that the new justi-
fcation of need leaves no unanswered Ques-
.tions.
Commissioner Camalier, under whose
Jurisdiction the Health Department falls,
is convinced of the need for the new hos
pital He would do we'll to arrange pre-
Sentation of that need that will convince
his fellow Commissioners, with spokesmen
chosen from those who can speak authori-
tatively for the medical community as we'll
as for the Health Department. If there is
much more delay in resolving the question
of need, we are apt to lose the hospital. For
In matters of this sort, where there is failure
or inability to agree, Congress is very apt
to solve the question by withdrawing the
appropriation.
There is plenty of opinion to support
the conclusion that this would be tragic.
tuberculosis remains the most insidious and
elusive of the communicable diseases. 1t
is disease that requires ten per cent Of the
Nations hospital facilities. We are spend
ing SIS million year fighting it here, with
out great progress. Yet, given the resources
to cope with it, it can be brought under
control Should that come about within the
next generation, the new hospital, If prop
erly designed, will f1ll other needs in treat
ment of other chronic diseases. It will not
be white elephant. failure to go ahead
now with plans and construction OF this
hospital Is unthinkable.