Medical Students Ask Congress To Increase Funding For Infectious Diseases

Main Category: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Also Included In: Tuberculosis;  Medical Students / Training
Article Date: 25 Mar 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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In commemoration of World Tuberculosis Day, the American Medical Student Association (AMSA), the nation's largest, independent medical student organization, is joining Families USA to call on Congress to increase funding to combat infectious diseases. The President's current FY 2009 budget shortchanges both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC), two major agencies conducting global health research that affects millions worldwide.

Tuberculosis remains one of the top causes of morbidity and mortality around the world. In 2007, close to 14 million people had an active TB infection. TB claims 5,000 lives daily. Despite the impact of TB on the health of people globally, there have been no new diagnostic methods developed for TB in over a century. Additionally, we have seen no new anti-TB medications released in more than thirty years. Without new, effective treatments, the rates of multi-drug resistant and extensively drug-resistant TB will continue to rise. In a report released last month, the World Health Organization stated that MDR-TB has recently been recorded at the highest rates ever, with nearly 500,000 cases of MDR-TB per year globally.

Global health equity is one of AMSA's strategic priorities, and AMSA has a long tradition of lobbying legislators to ensure that the United States takes a lead in both research and treatment efforts of infectious diseases worldwide. Families USA and AMSA are disappointed that the President's FY 2009 budget does not even keep up with the cost of inflation for the NIH, and slashes funding for the CDC by $475 million.

Based on WHO and UNAIDS estimates for tropical diseases, Families USA and AMSA call for a 6.7 percent increase for the NIH over 2008 funding, with an additional $83.1 million for the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and an additional $2.4 million for the Fogarty International Center. The CDC's global health programs need a $35.5 million funding increase in 2009.

"A commitment to research is the only way to make progress towards new diagnostic tests, therapeutics, and vaccines," states Tanyaporn Wansom, AMSA Global Health Chair. "Without adequate funding, the NIH and CDC will not be able to continue to support global health programming that affects the health and security of people worldwide."

About the American Medical Student Association

The American Medical Student Association (AMSA), with more than a half-century history of medical student activism, is the oldest and largest independent association of physicians-in-training in the United States. Founded in 1950, AMSA is a student-governed, non-profit organization committed to representing the concerns of physicians-in-training. With more than 68,000 members, including medical and premedical students, residents and practicing physicians, AMSA is committed to improving medical training as well as advancing the profession of medicine. AMSA focuses on four strategic priorities, including universal healthcare, disparities in medicine, diversity in medicine and transforming the culture of medical education.

American Medical Student Association