Private, Public Sector Collaboration Needed To Address Problems With U.S. Health Care System, Opinion Piece States

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 09 Sep 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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A report recently released by the Commonwealth Fund "found that 82% of adults surveyed believe the U.S. health care system needs an overhaul," and, as "we address reform, we must preserve what is good about the current system," Tony Zook, president and CEO of AstraZeneca North America, writes in a Philadelphia Inquirer opinion piece. Zook writes that the "strong relationship between physician and patient must be protected" because physicians "have skills that are broader than a pill or vaccine" and serve as a "trusted source of healing and health information."

Meanwhile, "efforts to prevent chronic diseases must be enhanced," Zook writes, adding, "Today, 75 cents out of every dollar spent on health care is spent on chronic diseases" even though "chronic diseases are among the most common and costly health problems" and "also among the most preventable." In addition, according to Zook, the U.S. "must learn from successful public-private sector programs such as the Medicare prescription drug benefit to ensure that everyone has affordable access to health insurance coverage, including prescription drug coverage."

He writes, "It is important for our political leaders to recognize that while the pharmaceutical industry does not have all the answers, we want to be part of the solution," and the industry "must demonstrate that it is taking its responsibilities seriously." Zook adds, "That starts with being transparent -- to patients, physicians and the public."

He writes, "I envision that we can improve a health care system in which more people are treated, fewer people are hospitalized, and medicines will be viewed as an investment, not a cost," and the pharmaceutical industry can help implement such changes "by playing a collaborative, proactive role in shaping a system that helps Americans lead longer and happier lives" (Zook, Philadelphia Inquirer, 9/8).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

© 2008 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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